140 BIRDS OF OHIO. 
eaten and fed to the young during July and August, with 
some seeds after the young are able to digest such hard food. 
The great usefulness in destroying quantities of weed 
seeds cannot be questioned. If he ever does damage I have 
not heard of it. 
193. (533.) Sprnus pryus (Wils.). 91. 
Pine Siskin. 
Synonyms: Chrysomitris pinus, Fringilla pinea, Linaria pinus. 
Pine Linnet, Pine Finch American Siskin. 
Storer, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., II, 1845, 52. 
The Pine Siskin has certainly decreased in numbers since 
Dr. Wheaton knew it in 1882, when he regarded it as abun- 
dant. It is reported as rare from the southern, and only 
locally common from the central portion of the state. In 
the northern counties, particularly those touching Lake Erie, 
it may frequently become common during the autumn and 
spring, less so during winter. There is no authentic record 
of its breeding in the state, unless Dr. Kirtland’s circum- 
stantial evidence of mating and presence in June and July, 
1850, be so considered. He states that both old and young 
appeared for three successive years early in July. No nests 
were found. 
I have never found the Pine Siskin before the first week 
in September nor later than the first week in May in Lorain 
county. It is not always present all winter, but may be. 
I have found it usually associated with Goldfinch feeding 
with them and like them, but occasionally in small flocks 
by themselves feeding in the pine and cedar trees and hem- 
locks. 
194. (534.) PassERINA NIvALIS (Linn.). 92. 
Snowflake. 
Synonyms: Plectrophanes nivalis, Emberiza nivalis, Plectrophe- 
nax nivalis. 
Snow Bunting, Snowbird, White Snowbird. 
Audubon, Orn. Biog., II, 1834, 515. 
Snowflake seldom appears in northern Ohio before the 
