shortly before Christmas, when a heavy snow storm and very cold weather (the mercury 

 solidifying on several occasions) brought many birds about the Fort for food and shelter. 

 Of these, Snow Buntings and Shore Larks (var. Leacolsema) were the most abundant, 

 and mingled with them were Red-polls and the present species. During the most severe 

 weather the Finches, when not feeding, sought shelter in Chff Swallow's nests under 

 the eaves of the stables, — a habit I did not observe in the other species. From that 

 time to the present, about two months, the birds have been quite common, but only 

 during storms ; they appear about the buildings within an hour or two of the first fall 

 of snow, and remain until the storm is over. They are now to be found for a day or 

 two among the weeds in the post garden, and then disappear until the next storm ; nor 

 has diligent search revealed their haunts at these intervals. Though very tame, and 

 associating freely with the Buntings and Larks while in the Fort, at the garden the 

 Finches are usually seen in small flocks by themselves, or with the Red-polls. Here they 

 are restless rather than shy, continually rising without apparent cause, to settle imme- 

 diately near the same spot. The only note I have heard is a rather musical chink. On 

 dissection the oesophagus was always found distended with the seeds of a small weed. 

 Both Finches mingle indiscriminately. At this season of the year they are alike in 

 having the bill yellow with dusky tip, iris brown, the legs and feet brownish-black." 



This life-sketch of the Gray-crowned Rosy Finch would be incomplete, should I 

 fail to quote an article from the pen of Dr. R. W. Shufeldt in the "Bulletin of the Nuttall 

 Ornithological Club." He writes: 



"While stationed at Fort Fetterman, Wyoming, in th© spring of 1880, I captured 

 eight Gray-crowned Finches, all apparently in perfect health and feather. After the 

 capture I decided, as well as I could from the diagnostic points of size and plumage, 

 that I had the sexes about equally represented. As these birds were very plenty about my 

 quarters, and anticipating the care of my pets, I had already constructed a large double 

 cage for them, consisting essentially of a lower or breeding cage, 3>c2i4 feet, with a 

 large side door, and admitting the light from in front and upper half through a rather 

 coarse net-work. This part of their home was intended to represent and take the place 

 of their outdoor existence. The floor was covered with two or three inches of earth 

 and sodded ; the grass growing well. Various styles of perches were introduced, minia- 

 ture clumps of dry grasses, and odds and ends of building materials. Above and easy 

 of access there w^as another cage, 2 X 2 X 2% feet, with its floor also spread w^ith earth, 

 well lighted, and containing a large bath tub and a shelf intended to represent the 

 eaves of a house, a style of perch the Gray-crowned Finch is particularly fond of. The 

 capture was effected on the 10th of March, and the little fellows were introduced to 

 their home for the summer. I had two objects in view : first, to observe their style of 

 plumage during the summer months, and, secondly, if possible, to induce them to breed 

 and rear their young. Imagine my delight, w^hen I found that in a few days they not 

 only became accustomed to their narrow quarters, but apparently thoroughly satisfied 

 and happy. Flocks of their companions passing over were certain to be called down, 

 to alight on the fences, the ground, and in fact everything in the neighborhood of the 

 cage, to even the cage itself Their plumage at this time of the year seemed to be 

 almost in a perfect state> all the colorings being very dark. My captives were fed upon 



