140 BIRDS OF OHIO. 



eaten and fed to the young during July and August, with 

 some seeds after the young are able to digest such hard food. 

 The great usefulness in ' destroying quantities of- weed 

 seeds cannot be questioned. ■ If he ever does damage I have 

 not heard of it. 



193. (533.) Spinus pii^us (Wils.). 91. 



Pine Siskin. 



Synonyms: Chrysomitris pinus, Fringilla pinea, Linaria pinus. 



Pine Linnet, Pine Finch American Siskin. 

 Storer, Proc. Post. Soc. Nat. Hist., II, 1845, 52. 



The Pine Siskin has certainly decreased in numbers since 

 Dr. Wheaton knew it in 1883, when he regarded it as abun- 

 dant. It is reported as rare from the southern, and only 

 locally common from the central portion of the state. In 

 the northern counties, particularly those touching Lake Erie, 

 it may frequently become common during the autumn and 

 spring, less so during winter. There is no authentic record 

 of its breeding in the state, unless Dr. Kirtland's circum- 

 stantial evidence of mating and presence in June and July, 

 1850, be so considered. He states that both old and young 

 appeared for three successive years early in July. No nests 

 were found. 



I have never found the Pine Siskin before the first week 

 in September nor later than the first week in May in Lorain 

 county. It is not always present all winter, but may be. 

 I have found it usually associated with Goldfinch feeding 

 with them and like them, but occasionally in small flocks 

 by themselves feeding in the pine and cedar trees and hem- 

 locks. 



194. (534.) Passerina nivalis (Linn.). 92. 



Snowflake. 



Synonyms: Plectrophanes nivalis, Emberiza nivalis, Plectrophe- 

 nax nivalis. 

 Snow Bunting, Snowbird, White Snowbird. 

 Audubon, Orn. Biog., II, 1834, 515. ; 



Snowflake seldom appears in northern Ohio before the 



