322 BIEDS — FKINGILLID^. 



fine rootlets and hair. The eggs are light green, spotted chiefly about the 

 larger end, with light rusty-brown. They measure .71 by .50. 



Cheysomitris tristis (L.) Bp. 



.A-merican O-oldiiiacli ; "VelloTv-bird, 



Fringilla tristis, Audubon, Orii. Biog., 1831, 172.— Kirtland, Ohio Gealog. Surv., 1838, 



164 —Read, Proc. Phila. Aead Nat. Sci., vi, 1833, .395. 

 Carduelis tristis, Audubon, B. Am., iii, 1841, 129 

 Chrysomitris tristis, Whbaton, Ohio Agric. Kep. for 1860, 365 ; Reprict, 1861, 7 ; Food of 



Birds, etc., Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1874, bi'S ; Reprint, 1,87.'), ii. — Langdon, Cat. Birds 



of Gin., 1877, 8; Revised List, Journ Ciii. Soo. Nut. Hiet., i, 1879, 174; Reprint, 8. 

 American Goldfinch, Kirtland, Fam, Visitor, 1850, 140.— Baixou, Field and Fori'st, iii, 



1878, 136. 



Fringilla tristis, Linnaeus, Syst, Nat., i, 1766, 320. 

 Carduelis tristis, Bonapartb, Oba. Wils , 18i5, No. 96. 

 Chrysomitris tristis, Bonaparte, List, 1838, 33. 



Male in summer rich yellow, changing to whitish on the tail coverts; a black patch 

 on the crown; wings black, more or leas edged and barred with white; lesser wing- 

 coverts yellow ; tail black, every feather with a white spot : bill and feet iiesh-colored. 

 In September the black cap disappears and the general plnmage changes to a pale 

 flaxen brown above, and whitey-browu below, with traces of the yellow, especially 

 about the head; this continues till the following April or May. Female olivaceous, in 

 eluding the crown ; below soiled yellowish ; wings and lail dusky, whitish-edged ; young 

 like the female. Length, about 4f ; wing, Sf ; tail, 2. 



Habitat, North America generally. 



Abundant resident, less common in winter. Breeds. The Yellow-bird 

 is almost too well known to require further description. Its bright colors, 

 undulati'ng flight, plaintive note, and fondness for the seeds of thistles, 

 lettuce, and sunflowers, render it more conspicuous than many birds of 

 larger size. It resembles more northern birds in its gregarious and erratic 

 habits. In spring they are found in large flocks, especially delighting 

 in willow trees, where they sing ia concert a confusing melody of high 

 notes. They are fond of water, and like the common yellow butterflies, 

 gather in numbers on the borders of streams, and puddles of water by the 

 roadside. 



The Yellow-bird breeds late, with us, usually in July. The nest is built 

 in trees. Often the shade trees or fruit trees in cities are chosen, and 

 they appear to be the only birds breeding with us whose nest is ever placed 

 in a peach tree. It is usually from fifteen to twenty feet from the ground, 

 and built of moss, grass, and small vegetable fibres, thickly lined with 

 vegetable down. 



The eggs are five, light bluish-white, unmarked. They measure about 

 .65 by .52. 



