FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 61 



Range. North America; nests from northern New England 

 north to Canada and in the mountains, south to North Carolina; 

 in winter southward to the Gulf States. 



Washington, irregularly abundant W. V., Oct. 24-May 20. 

 Ossining, irregular P. R. Cambridge, irregular W. V., Oct. 15- 

 May 10; sometimes very abundant; one breeding record. N. 

 Ohio, tolerably common W. V., Sept. 20-May 15. Glen Ellyn, 

 irregular T. V., Apl. 8-May 24; Sept. 8-Nov. 29. SE. Minn.i 

 uncommon T. V., and W. V. Oct. 29-Apl. 9. 



The Siskin belongs in the group of winter visitants 

 whose coming cannot be foretold. Some years it is rare 

 or wanting, others abundant, a flock sometimes containing 

 several hundred birds. In general habits it resembles 

 the Goldfinch, feeding on weed seeds and catkins, par- 

 ticularly of the alder, and on the seeds of conifers. The 

 call-note is a high e-eep: its song like that of the Goldfinch 

 but less musical. 



SNOW BUNTING 

 Plectrophanes nivalis nivalis. Case 2, Fig. 57 



The prevailing tone of plumage is white, particularly when the 

 bird is on the wing; the long, hind toe-nail should be noted. L. 

 6i 



Range. Nests in Arctic regions, winters irregularly south to 

 Kansas and Virginia. 



Washington, W. V., casual, one instance. Ossining, irregular 

 W. V., Oct. 25— Mch. 22. Cambridge, common W. V., Nov. 1— 

 Mch.^is; abundant in migrations. N. Ohio, tolerably common 

 W. V., Dec. 10-Mch. is. SE. Minn., common W. V., Oct. 9- 

 Mch. 14. 



Snow Buntings live in flocks and love open places, such 

 as Horned Larks frequent, and are often found with them 

 in fields or along the shore. Like the Horned Larks they 

 are walkers, not hoppers, and like most walkers, it is 

 exceptional for them to perch in trees. Hoffman de- 

 scribed their notes as "a high, sweet, though slightly 

 mournful tee, or tee-oo, a sweet rolling whistle, and a harsh 



