March, 1898. Birds of the Pacific Slope of Los Angeles County. 35 



gather in sunflower patches and open fields, but in spring they are 

 pretty well distributed, and nest almost anywhere, even in cactus. Very 

 numerous and familiar about houses and gardens. In the summer 

 these birds do considerable damage to the fruit crop. Breeds in April, 

 May and June. Earliest set, four fresh eggs, taken by me in Pasa- 

 dena, March 26 ('96). Last .set of four fresh eggs, noted by F. B. 

 Jewett near Pasadena, Aug. i ('96). Sets are of three to six eggs, or- 

 dinarily four or five. 



198 — 539b. Spmus tristis salicamans Grinuell. 



Willow Goldfincb- 

 Common resident of the lowlands. In summer they are almost 

 wholly confined to the willow regions, but in winter they gather into 

 flocks and wander everywhere, even into the mouniain canons, where 

 they feed on the buds and seeds of sycamores and alders. Breeds 

 mostly in May and June, though I have found fresh eggs early in 

 April, and small young in August. Sets are four or five. 



199 — 530. Spinus psaltria (Say). 



Arkansas Goldfinch. 

 Abundant resident of the foothill regions up to 3000 feet in the 

 canons. Less common in the lowlands and up to 6000 feet in the 

 mountains. Numerous about gardens and orchards, and in common 

 with the other goldfinches, popularly called "Wild Canaries." Breeds 

 mostly from April to July, but I have found eggs as early as March 

 22, and in the fall, at least around my home place in Pasadena, they 

 breed regularly until September and in a few cases later. On Oct. 21 

 ('95) I took a set of three slightly incubated eggs, and during the 

 first week of November ('97) two broods of young left their nests. In 

 all cases these late nests are built in evergreens, and at a considerable- 

 height above the ground. 



200 — 5^/. Spinus lawrencei (Cass.). 



Lawreoce's Goldfinch. 

 Probably occurs throughout the year, but common only during 

 the spring and early summer months. Inhabits mainly the mesas and 

 mountain canons and pine forests up to 6000 feet. Breeds in May. 

 The earliest set, of five fresh eggs, was taken by G. F. Morcom at Los 

 Angeles, April 23 ('92); and the latest, a set of five slightly incubated 

 eggs. May 27 ('93), taken by me near Pasadena. I have never noted 

 this goldfinch during the fall months, that is, from September to No- 

 vember, in any part of the county, but in December and on until the 

 last of March, small flocks haunt the banks of the arroyos and weed 

 patches, after which they pair off and scatter through the orchards and 

 canons. 

 201 — 5jj>. Spinus pinus (Wils. ) . 



Pine Siskio- 

 Irregular winter vi-sitant in the willow regions of the lowlands. In 

 1892 this bird was very abundant during February and March; and it 

 again appeared, though in smaller numbers, during the same months 

 in 1897. They were noted in the neighborhood of El Monte as late as 

 March 20 ('97). In July ('97) I found the Pine Siskin to be tolerably 



