426 



THE FUK SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 

 PASSEEINA NIVALIS. 



68. Acanthis linaria (Linn.). RedpolL 



Acanthis linaria, Shakpe, Cat. B. Br. Miis. XII, 1888, 245.— A. O. U. Ch. List, 1895, 217.— Eii>G- 



WAY, Man. 1896, 397. 

 "AegioiUi," Elliott, Mod. Seal Ids. 1882, 136. 



Mr. Elliott collected several specimens on St. Paul, June 21, 1872. They were 

 preserved in alcohol, but have not been seen since. He saw others in October, 1872. 

 They doubtless occur as migrants in small flocks. 



69. Leucostiote griseonucha (Brandt). Aleutian Rosy Finch " Patoshkie." 



Leucosticte tephrocotis var. griaeinucha, CouES, in Elliott's Kpt. Aff. Alaska, 1873; Reprint, 1875, 



174.— Elliott, Mon. Seal. Ids. 1882, 127. 

 Leucosticte tephrocotis, Harting, Fauna Prybilov, 1875, 16. 

 Leucosticte griaeinucha, Daix and Bannister, Trans. Chic. Ac. Sci. 1869, 282, PI. XXIV, fig. 1. — 



Baird, t. c, PI. XXIV, ibid.— COUBS, Key, 1890, 351. 

 Leucosticte griseonucha, Tdknkr, Cout. Nat. Hist. Alaska, 1886, 171, PI. viii. — Nelson, Bds. 



Alaska, 1887, 176.— Townsend, Cruise, Corwin, 1887, 100.— A. O. U. Ch. List, 1895, 215.— 



Ridgway, Man. 1896, 391. 

 Montifringilla griaeinucha, Sharpb, Cat. B. Br. Mus. XII, 1888, 275. 



Dr. Dall collected a number of these birds on St. George in August, 1868. He 

 says: "This beautiful bird had no song at that season except a clear chirp, sounding 

 like "w6eta-wcet-a-wee-Aveet." It was on the wing a great part of the time, avoiding 

 lighting on the ground, but darting rapidly in a series of ascending and descending 

 • curves, now swinging on the broad top of an umbelliferous plant and now alighting 

 on- some ledge of the perpendicular bluff, jumping from point to point, and seemingly 

 delighting in testing their own agility." Unlike the longspur, which is never seen 

 about the houses in summer, and the snowflake, which is not often found at the same 

 place, the, pahtosMe appears in the greatest abundance about the villages of St. Paul 

 and St. George, and even frequents the houses and streets. "This agreeable little 

 bird, always cheerful and self-possessed, is a regular and permanent settler on the 

 islands, which it never leaves. In the depth of dismal winter, as well as on a sum- 

 mer's day, the pahtoskie greets you with the same pleasant chirrup, wearing the 

 same neat dress, as if determined to make the best of everything." — (Elliott.) They 

 love to stay about the bold cliffs, in the chinks and crevices of which they build their 

 rather large nests, and about the rocks of which they obtain the great part of their 

 insect food. I have picked from the mouth of a freshly killed bird the most minute 

 insects, and have watched them feeding on the drying carcass of a seal hanging out- 

 side the house of an Aleut, and they do not scorn the possibilities afforded by the 

 decaying seal carcasses on the killing ground. I have seen no specimens of nestlings. 



