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ARCTIC GROUND-FINCH. 



Fringilla arctica. Swains. 



PLATE CCCXCIV. Male and Female. 



This handsome species was first described by Mr Swainson in the 

 Fauna Boreali-Americana. Dr Richardson in the same work states, 

 that it was observed only on the plains of the Saskatchewan, where he 

 supposes it breeds, as one specimen was obtained late in July. It 

 arrives there in the end of May, and frequents shady and moist clumps 

 of wood, being generally seen on the ground. It feeds on grubs, and 

 is solitary and retired. My friend Mr Ndttall has furnished me with 

 the following account of it : — 



" We found this familiar bird entirely confined to the western side 

 of the Rocky Mountains. Like the common Towee, it is seen to 

 frequent the forests amidst bushes and thickets, where, flitting along 

 or scratching up the dead leaves, it seems intent on gaining a humble 

 subsistence. It is much more shy than the common kind, when ob- 

 served flying off" or skulking in the thickest places, where it is with dif- 

 ficulty followed. In a few minutes, however, the male, always accom- 

 panying his mate, creeps out, and at first calls in a low whisper of re- 

 cognition, when, if not immediately answered, he renews his plaintive 

 par par ov pay pay ay, until joined by her ; when, if the nest be invaded, 

 he comes out more boldly, and reiterates his complaint, while there re- 

 mains around him the least cause of alarm. When undisturbed during 

 the period of incubation, he frequently mounts a low bush in the morn- 

 ing, and utters at short intervals, for an hour at a time, his monoto- 

 nous and quaint warble, which is very similar to the notes of the Towee ; 

 but this latter note (towee) so continually repeated by our humble and 

 familiar Ground Robin, is never heard in the western wilds, our pre- 

 sent species uttering in its stead the common complaint, and almost 

 mew, of the Cat Bird. On the 14th of June, I saw the nest of this 

 species, situated in the shelter of a low undershrub, in a depression 

 scratched out for its reception. It was made of a rather copious lining 

 of clean wiry grass, with some dead leaves beneath, as a foundation. 

 The eggs were four, nearly hatched, very closely resembling those of 



VOL. V. D 



