THE BIRD BOOK 



533. Pine Siskin. Spintis pinus. 



Range. — Breeds from northern United States 

 northward, in the Alleghanles and In the Rock- 

 ies south to New Mexico. Winters throughout 

 the United States. 



Siskins are of the size of the Goldfinch (5 

 inches long), and their calls, songs and habits 

 are similar to those of this bird. Their plum- 

 age is grayish brown, streaked with dusky and 

 the bases of the wings and tail feathers are 

 yellow. Like the Crossbills, 

 they frequently feed along our 

 northern borders, but very spor- 

 adically. Their nests are built 

 on horizontal branches of pines 

 or cedars at any elevation from 

 the ground, being made of '""''^^"'^'^ '^'^''"' 

 grasses and rootlets lined with hair or pine 

 needles, and of rather frail and flat construc- 

 tion. Their eggs are laid during May or June 

 and are greenish white, specked with reddish 

 brown; size .68 x .48. Data. — Hamilton Inlet, 



Labrador, June 17, 1S98. Nest on branch of a spruce, 10 feet from the ground; 



made of grass, lined with moss and feathers. Collector, L. Dicks. 



Pin<=' Riskin 



.534. Snow Bunting. I'lpcfrophetta.7' tiivnlis nivalis. 



f^ 



Grepnish \^'l^itf• 



Range. — Breeds in the Arctic regions, and winters irregularly in large flocks 

 through the United States to Oregon, Kansas 

 and Georgia. 



These birds are only seen in the United 



States in large roving flocks, 



,, ' . ^ during the winter when they 



<V"" i"-'" . feed on weed seeds on side 



hills. Their nests are built 



on the ground, being sunk 



into the spagnum moss, and 



made of grasses lined with 



feathers. Their four or five 



eggs are a light greenish white, spotted and" 



splashed with yellowish brown and lilac. Size 



.90 X .6.5. 



.)3'la. PniniT.oF Snow Bttnting. Plectro- 

 ■phenna- nivali.i ton^n.iendi. 



Range. — Pribilof and Aleutian Islands, Alaska. 



A slightly larger variety which is resident 

 on the islands in its range. Eggs like those 

 of the preceding; laid from May to July. 



Snowflaktf 



332 



