PINE FINCH. 181 
the pine woods that cover many lesser ranges of the Alleghany. 
While here, they are often so tame as to allow you to walk within a 
few yards of the spot where a whole flock of them are sitting. They 
flutter ‘among the branches, frequently hanging by the cones, and 
uttering a note almost exactly like that of the Goldfinch, (F- tristts.) I 
have not a doubt but this bird appears in a richer dress in summer in 
those placés where he breeds, as he has so very great a resemblance 
to the bird above mentioned, with whose changes we are well ac- 
quainted. * 
The length of this species is four inches; breadth, eight inches ; 
upper part of the head, the neck, and back, a dark flaxen color, 
streaked with black; wings black, marked with two rows of dull 
white or cream color; whole wing-quills, under the coverts, rich yel- 
low, appearing even when the wings are shut; rump and tail-coverts, 
yellowish, streaked with dark brown; tail-feathers, rich yellow from 
the roots half way to the tips, except the two middle ones, which are 
blackish brown, slightly edged with yellow; sides, under the wings, 
of a cream color, with long streaks of black; breast, a light flaxen col- 
or, with small streaks or pointed spots of black; legs, purplish brown ; 
bill,.a dull horn color; eyes, hazel. The female was scarcely distin- 
guishable by its plumage from the male) The New York Siskin of 
Pennant * appears to be only the Yellow-Bird (Fringilla tristis) in his 
winter dress. nk: ; 
This bird has a still greater resemblance to the Siskin of Europe, 
(Ff. spinus,) and may, perhaps, be the species described by Turton + 
as the Black Mexican Siskin, which he says is varied above with black 
and yellowish, and is white beneath, and which is also said to sing 
finély. This change from flaxen to yellow is observable in the Gold- 
finch; and no other two birds of our country resemble each other 
more than these do in their winter dresses. Should these surmises be 
found correct, a figure of this bird, in his sumtner dress, shall appear 
in some future part of our work. t 
* Arctic Zoology, p. 372, No. 243. + Turron, vol. i. p. 560. 
{ This is a true Siskin ; and we have a very accurate description of the general 
manners of the group in those of the individual now described by Wilson. Little 
seems to be known of their summer haunts ; and, indeed, the more northern species 
remain in the same obscurity. They generally all migrate, go north to breed, and 
winter in southern latitudes. The species of Great Britain and Europe performs a 
like migration, assembling in very large flocks during winter, feeding upon seeds, 
&c., and retiring north to-breed. A few pairs, not performing the migration to its 
utmost northern extent, breed in the larger pine woods in the Highlands of Scot- 
Jand. In 1829, they were met with in June, in a Jarge fir wood at Killin, evidently 
breeding ; last year, they were known to breed in an extensive wood at New Ab- 
vey, in Galloway. In their winter migrations, they are not regular, particular 
districts being visited by them at uncertain periods. th Annandale, Dumfriesshire, 
uney were always accounted rare, and the first pair I ever saw there was shot in 
1827. Early in October, as the winter advanced, very large flocks arrived, and 
fed chiefly upon the rag-weed, and under some large beech-trees, turning over the 
fallen mast, and eating part of the kernels, as well as any seeds they could find 
among them. In 1828, they again appeared ; but in 1829, not one was seen 5 and 
«ne present winter, (1830,) they are equally wanting. The plate of our author is 
that of the bird in its winter dress. ‘As he justly observes, the plumage becomes 
much richer during the season of incubation. The black parts become brighter 
and deeper, and the olive of a yellower green. — Ep. 
16 
