The Lawrence Goldfinch 



and to try to find out the determining causes which move its choice. But 

 published accounts of the bird's notes and habits are very meager; and in 

 general, the Lawrence Goldfinch appears to have escaped both common 

 and critical observation. 



The pattern of coloration of the male lawrencei is distinctive enough; 

 that of the female much less so; but as to the more significant distinctions 

 of habit and psychology, I can offer only notes upon the song and the 

 nesting habits. The Lawrence Goldfinch has no proper song of his own, 

 but renders instead a vivacious medley, which is even more varied and 

 extended and impetuous than that of psaltria. Thus I have heard repro- 

 ductions of Sparrow Hawk, Meadowlark, Lark Sparrow, Junco, Rock 

 Wren, Audubon Warbler, Plain Tit, Robin and Bluebird. One of these 

 roistering bodies sang for me at ten feet while I was aloft in a cottonwood 

 tree on the banks of the San Juan Creek. The singer was surcharged 

 with energy, and he swayed his head from side to side in the enthusiasm of 

 utterance, — a sort of combination electric fan and Victrola, never hesi- 

 tating for a moment when he changed records. Some of the minor links 

 of his song were undoubtedly his own ; but the characteristic things were 

 shamelessly plagiarized. Among the minor notes is a pee udle, or pilildle 

 (umlauted) note, by which a sharp ear once aroused may trace the bird 

 forever after. While lawrencei lacks (I believe) the musical titter of 

 psaltria, it has a sharply penetrating deew deew couplet which answers 

 the same purpose. And there is good need to memorize these notes if you 

 would learn more of the ways of lawrencei. For, sitting high in a budding 

 cottonwood tree, these Lawrence Goldfinches secure about the same 

 obliterance which their Cousin Green-back does in the sycamores. You 

 may spy one aloft because he is singing, but you are surprised a moment 

 later when a dozen emerge from the same branch. 



Nesting, I find, is studied to the very best advantage in isolated 

 clusters, or in hedges, of the Monterey Cypress. Here the birds colonize 

 to some extent, and I have found as many as ten nests at once in two 

 adjoining trees. There is no flock impulse in this matter, however, for 

 along with uncompleted nests were others containing eggs, and others 

 still with young. In default of cypress trees, live oaks will do, or elder 

 clumps, or even the lowlier stations of the open sage. 



April is the nesting month in the San Juan country. I have taken 

 eggs as early as April 8th; and Mr. Truesdale, I believe, has a record for 

 April ist. The altitude here is about a thousand feet. In the more 

 elevated stations of southern California, the seasons may be prolonged 

 into June, or even July. Eggs of this species, unlike those of our other 

 goldfinches, are pure white — not even greenish white, as reported by 



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