FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 383 



Their love song is delivered with an ecstasy and abandon which car- 

 ries them off their feet, and they circle over the fields sowing the air 

 with music. The song has a canary like character, and while it is less 

 varied it possesses a wild, ringing quality wanting in the cage-bound 

 bird's best efforts. 



1898. BRUCE, M. E., Auk, XV, 239-243 (home-life). 



Carduelis carduelis (Linn.). EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH. Ads. Region 

 about the base of the bill bright red; crown, and a stripe extending from it 

 on to the sides of the neck, black; back cinnamon-brown; wings black, 

 crossed by a broad yellow band ; tail black, inner webs of the feathers tipped 

 with white; underparts white, sides tinged with the color of back. L., 5*50; 

 W., 3'00; T., 2'95; B., '50. 



Range. "Europe generally, except extreme northern part" (Sharpe). 

 Introduced near New York City and occurring also about Boston; naturalized 

 in Bermuda. 



Nest, externally, of grasses and plant down, lined with plant down, in 

 coniferous trees. Eggs, 4-5, white, with purplish spots, '72 x *50. Date, 

 Central Park, Apl. 26. 



This European species was introduced into this country at Hoboken, 

 N. J., in 1878, and descendants of the original birds probably still exist 

 in this part of New Jersey, since I observed two at Englewood in June, 

 1911. In 1879 it appeared in Central Park, New York City, where 

 it was probably also introduced, but it is now exceedingly rare in New 

 York City. A third point of introduction is Boston, where, according 

 to Hoffmann, "it occurs rarely." In general habits this species resem- 

 bles its American cousin with which it sometimes associates. 



533. Spinus pinus pinus (Wils.). PINE SISKIN. Ads. Bill sharply 

 pointed, a small tuft of bristly feathers over the nostrils ; upperparts streaked 

 with black, the feathers margined with buffy; wings fuscous, most of the 

 feathers margined with yellow, and yellow at the base; tail fuscous, all but 

 the middle feathers yellow at the base; underparts white, tinged with buffy 

 and heavily streaked with black. L., 5'00; W., 2*76; T., 1'90; B., '40. 



Remarks. The yellow markings in the wings and tail of this species will 

 always serve to distinguish it. 



Range. N. A. Breeds mainly in Canadian zone, s. through the higher 

 mts. of w. U. S. to n. L. Calif., and s. N. M., and to n. Minn., n. Mich., N. 

 B., N. S., and in mts. to N. C., and casually in the lower Hudson Valley 

 and Mass. ; occurs in winter over most of the U. S. s. to n. Mex. 



Washington, irregularly abundant W. V., Oct. 24-May 20. Ossining, 

 irregular P. R. Cambridge, irregular W. V., Oct. 15-May 10; sometimes 

 very abundant; one breeding record. N. Ohio, tolerably common W. V., 

 Sept. 20-May 15. Glen Ellyn, irregular T. V., Apl. 8-May 24; Sept. 8- 

 Nov. 29. SE. Minn., uncommon T. V., and W. V. Oct. 29- Apl. 9. 



Nest, of twigs and rootlets, lined with plant down and long hairs, in co- 

 niferous trees. Eggs, 4, pale bluish white, thinly spotted with reddish brown, 

 67 x '46. Date, Ossining, N. Y., May 25; Lyons Falls, N. Y., Apl. 25; 

 Farmington, Maine, June 14. 



Like some other winter birds whose movements are governed by the 

 food-supply, the Siskin is more or less irregular in its occurrence south 

 of its breeding range, being abundant some years and rare or absent 

 others. 



During the summer it is an inhabitant of coniferous growths and 



