]f*i2] Swarth: Birds and Mammals from Vancouver Island 55 



parti-colored, some of them quite similar to some of the Alaskan 

 birds on which the description of sithensis was based. Possibly 

 further collecting will produce Alaskan crossbills in the bright 

 red plumage, but however that may be. no color difference can 

 be maintained to exist between Vancouver Island and eastern 

 birds, nor do I find that there are any notable differences in the 

 measurements of specimens from the various regions. 



The duller colored, presumably younger, males, show consid- 

 erable variation. Some are quite uniformly dull red or orange, 

 while others have the body plumage of about the greenish yellow- 

 color of the female, but interspersed with patches of quite 

 brilliant red. It accordingly seems possible that the brightest 

 plumage may be acquired through a single change, rather than 

 after a series of molts into successively brighter red plumages. 



One bird with many red feathers in the greenish yellow body 

 plumage, still retains on the abdomen the streaked feathers of 

 the juvenal plumage. Two adult females also have similar tracts 

 of juvenal feathers still lingering. Several males shot during 

 April and May, and early in June, are undergoing a slight molt 

 about the head and neck. One bird with comparatively few 

 yellow feathers in the red plumage, is nevertheless acquiring 

 additional yellow ones by this change. 



Streaked young were taken in April, May, June and July. 

 One shot at Parksville, May 4, is already changing into first 

 winter plumage. 



Measurements of Loxia curvirostra minor from Vancouver Island 



Spinus pirms (Wilson) 



Pine Siskin 



Fairly common, and observed at nearly every collecting 



station except at Nootka Sound. Specimens were collected at 



several points on the east coast — Parksville, Errington, and Little 



