292 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



AsTRAGALiNus TEisTis TRiSTis (Linn.). Goldfinch. 



Very common summer resident; not uncommon winter resident. 



The Wild Canary or Thistle Bird is most abundant here dur- 

 ing migration, from the last week in April to the middle of May 

 and during October. They are always present in winter in 

 varying abundance and are generally distributed over the en- 

 tire county. 



They nest rather late, as is shown by the following data from 

 the Tindall collection: — August 21, 1891, four eggs; August 

 21, 1891, six eggs; June 30, 1895, three eggs; September 7, 

 1902, five eggs. 



The male Goldfinch presents a good example of the plumage 

 change in birds whose summer and winter coats are entirely 

 different. Individuals may be seen during different seasons of 

 the year in all phases of their changing color. 



Spinus pinus (Wilson). Pine Siskin. 

 Not uncommon migrant and winter visitant. 



A large per cent of the flocks of wintering Goldfinches have 

 Siskins scattered among them. They are easily distinguished 

 by their notes and by the streaked plumage. 



Flocks of migrating Siskins numbering hundreds have been 

 seen between the middle of March (March 11, 1907) and the 

 last of April, and from the last week of October to middle or 

 late November. 



The presence of this bird in winter is often overlooked and 

 every group of Goldfinches and wintering Sparrows should be 

 closely scrutinized to find it. 



Passer domesticus (Linn.). 



Passer hostilis Kleinsehmidt. Proposed October, 1916. Eng- 

 lish Sparrow. 

 Very abundant resident. 



This alien species has established itself not only about the 

 centers of civilization but has overflowed into the sjirrounding 

 wild places and has proven itself equally successful in leading 

 a feral existence. It is found in the wildest and most inacces- 

 sible tangles of the Missouri bottom jungles, and nests in vines 

 in the timber along the water courses and in deserted wood- 

 pecker holes as well as natural cavities. Under favorable con- 



