EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH 175 



on the seeds of weeds in neglected fields and waste ground. 

 It occurs also as a migrant in large river valleys, feeding on 

 the muddy flats of lakes or ponds. On the sea-coast, flocks 

 of Snow Buntings associate with Horned Larks, but the for- 

 mer frequent the beach more than their companions, and the 

 grassy hills less. 



The notes of the Snow Bunting are a high, sweet, though 

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

 a harsh bzz. The great amount of white about the bird 

 serves to distinguish it ; the white in the wing is especially 

 conspicuous, as it flies over. On the ground it either walks 

 or runs. 



European Goldfinch. Carduelis carduelis 

 5.50 



Ad. — Region about the base of the bill bright red ; top of the 

 head and a stripe down the side of the neck black; sides of head 

 white; back brown; rump white; wings and tail black, the former 

 crossed by a hroad hand of bright yellow ; under parts dull white, 

 sides brown; bill reddish-white, tipped with black. 



Nest, a neat cup, in bushes or .small trees. Eggs, bluish-white 

 or greenish-white, marked with purplish around the larger end. 



The European Goldfinch has been introduced in the 

 neighborhood of New York city, and seems to have become 

 permanently established in Central Park and other favora- 

 ble places in the upper part of the city. It is resident 

 throughout the year ; in the neighborhood of Boston it occurs 

 rarely. It is restless and active, flies like our Goldfinch in 

 undulations, but is more at home in trees than on the 

 ground. 



A common note is like the syllables steeglit. It may 

 easily be known by the broad hand of yellow across the 

 black wing. Its under parts are white, imstreaked, while 

 the Pine Siskin, which has a smaller yellow bar across the 

 wing, is everywhere streaked. 



