THE GRAY-CROWNED LEUCOSTICTE. 



[Letccosiicte tephrocotis.) 



The Gray-crowned Leucosticte or Gray- 

 crowned Rosy Finch, as it is often called, 

 is a resident of the interior of British 

 America during the warmer months. In 

 the winter it passes southward, frequent- 

 ing; the Rocky Mountain region of the 

 United States, where it is quite com- 

 mon on the eastern slopes. So far as 

 known, within the border of the United 

 States, it only nests in the Sierra Nevada 

 in Cahfornia. While on the slopes of the 

 mountains this Finch is usually seen in 

 flocks. During the most severe weather 

 it will frequent settled districts, becom- 

 ing quite tame, and it has been known to 

 seek the sheltering cover of the nests of 

 cliff swallows under the eaves of build- 

 ings. When in the fields it is a restless 

 bird and quite shy. 



Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, while stationed at 

 Fort Fetterman, Wyoming, had an ex- 

 cellent opportunity to study the habits of 

 this handsome bird. He captured eight, 

 including both males and females, which 

 he placed in a cage especially prepared 

 for them. ''In a few days they not only 

 became accustomed to their quarters, but 

 apparently thoroughly satisfied and 

 happy. Flocks of their companions pass- 

 ing over were certain to be called down, 

 to alight on the fences, the ground, and 

 in fact, everything: in the neighborhood 

 of the cage, to even the cage itself." The 

 birds were given canary and flax seeds, 

 cracked wheat and finally lettuce and 

 other tender leaves, all of which they 

 seemed to relish. Dr. Shufeldt also says : 



"Every morning, as I approached the 

 cage, a general and impatient chatteriup^ 

 commenced for their breakfast and bath, 



and they immediately availed themselves 

 of both in my presence. Often I deluged 

 the entire cage, birds and all, with a 

 large watering pot, and they enjoyed the 

 sprinkling immensely. Later in the 

 spring this part of the programme was 

 followed by their pluming themselves in 

 the sun, chattering among themselves 

 and the males giving utterance to a low, 

 subdued and plaintive sort of song, being 

 different from the shrill whistle they gave 

 to attract the attention of their passing 

 fellows outside." By the middle of May 

 all the birds of this species had left the 

 vicinity for their breeding grounds fur- 

 ther north. Dr. Shuleldt's captives did 

 not even pair and early in July he re- 

 leased them. Their plumage seemed to 

 be at its best in the early part of May. 

 Another authority, speaking of this 

 bird's habits in the mountain regions, 

 says, "During summer and autumn the 

 Gray-crowned Finch is common above 

 timber line, where it breeds, ranging 

 higher than the titlark and being usually 

 found in the vicinity of snow fields and 

 the frozen lakes near the summit of the 

 range. It is rather shy in such locali- 

 ties, though exceedingly tame in winter. 

 Its flight is in undulating lines, like the 

 crossbills. The only note I have heard 

 it utter is a kind of churr, like the call of- 

 the scarlet tanager. They stay above 

 timber-line till the close of October or 

 the middle of November. They are per- 

 petually roving from place to place feed- 

 ing upon the seeds of weeds and grasses 

 and are never at rest for a moment at a 

 time, constantly whirling about in close, 

 dense masses, like so many longspurs." 



