Clin YSOMITR1S PINUS. 91 



iXclusively upon .seeds, and as they cannot find sufficient of this food earlier in the season 

 breed late. The young accompany the adults early in September, when they flock to old 

 fields which are grown up to thistles. Even during the breeding season the males show 

 an inclination to flock, and as they are then full of melody, each singing with a continuous, 

 warbling, song, of many minutes' duration, the effect produced by a concert of voices is 

 very line. The males also have a singular habit of flying about the neighborhood of the 

 nests, in huge circles, emitting a peculiar note tvhich is louder and clearer than that given 

 at other seasons. Both sexes are remarkably fond of bathing in summer, yet they cannot 

 lie considered as cleanly for their feathers are frequently bedaubed with a gummy sub- 

 tr.uee, from seeds. 



The southward migration begins shortly after the autumnal moult, which occurs about 

 the first of September. As before remarked the winter range is regulated largely by the 

 snow-fall, for, when deep, it renders the seeds inaccessible upon which the birds depend 

 for a sustenance. During such seasons Goldfinches may be found as far south as Florida. 

 1 even saw them at Miami, in large numbers, in the winter of 1870-71. While in the 

 above mentioned State they feed largely on the new seeds of maples which appear early 

 in January. They leave for the North in March. 



I should have stated that the eggs are from four to six in number; five being found 

 nearly as often as four, but six are more rare. 



CHBYSOMITRIS PINUS. 



Pine Goldfinch. 

 Chrysomitris pinus BON., Consp., 1850, 515. 



DESCRIPTION. - 



SP. Cn. Form,tjuite robust. Tongue, not very thick, horny, but having onlyavery slight indication of the hnir- 

 like terminal fibers. Sternum similar to that of tristis but proportionately a little broader and with the keel a trifle higher. 

 Bill, quite uccuminate. 



COLOR. Adult in summer. Grayish-white above and below, streaked with dusky, but lighter beneath. Basal portion 

 of wings and tail, excepting outer webs of first three primaries, and narrow edges of outer webs of primaries, sulphur-yellow. 

 I mliT win;; covert*, edges and tips of greater wing coverts and of tertiaries, white. 



Adult in winter. Similar to the summer plumage, but exhibiting n rufous tinge above and below. 



Youny and Nestlings. Differ from the winter adult in being more strongly tinged with rufous. Sexes similar in all 

 stages of plumage. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known by the ever present sulphur-yellow markings of the wings and tail. Some specimens show a tinge of yel- 

 low .in the alxloinen. Breeds from Northern New England to the Arctic Circle; winters from Maine to Florida. The spec- 

 inn n from Miami is somewhat smaller in size and darker in color than more northern skins. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements. Length. 5'25; stretch, 8-80; wing, 2'85; tail, 1'60; bill, '42; tarsus, -55. Longest specimen, 

 ,'reatcst extent of wing, 9' 10; longest wing, 3'00; tail, 1'05; bill, "45; tarsus, '60. Smallest specimen, ( from Miami, ) 

 length, 4-jO; stretch, 8-40; wing, 2'90; tail, 1-70; bill, '35; tarsus, -50. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed in trees. The following description is taken from a specimen, now in the Smithsonian In-ti:utc, which 

 wa- f, ,un>l at Parley's Park, Wahsatch Mountains, Utah, by Mr. Ridgway, who has kindly written it for me. "The very 

 bulky structure is composed of fine strips of bark, mostly gathered from coniferous and aspen tree*; the lining licini; of the 

 lame material but mixed with a little willow down. Dimensions; external diameter, 2'50, internal, 2'00. External depth, 

 2-00, internal, I'OO." 



