The California Linnet 



below, streaks broader and less distinct by reason of buffy edgings. Immature birds 

 resemble the female parent, but are more finely streaked with dusky below, and more 

 heavily margined by brownish buffy, especially on wing-coverts and tertials. Length 

 about 154.9 (6.10); wing 78 (3.07); tail 56 (2.20); bill 10.4 (.41); depth at base 9.6 

 (.38); tarsus 17.8 (.70). Females have slightly shorter wing. 



Recognition Marks. — Sparrow size; red and streaky plumage of male; all 

 streaky pattern of female. In spring, males are brighter red than males of C. p. 

 calif ornicus: in autumn they are more thoroughly streaked below; red of back more 

 restricted (spring), or paler (autumn). Female not certainly distinguishable from 

 that of the Purple Finch in autumn, but upper plumage rather more blended and grayer, 

 less olivaceous. 



Nesting. — Nest: Placed in almost any conceivable situation, but chiefly about 

 buildings or in crannies of cliffs, and in places offering more or less protection; as, 

 Monterey cypress trees, beds of "prickly pear" (Opuntia) cactus, old birds' nests, 

 and the like; a sturdy cup, constructed, often, with great taste from carefully selected 

 and uniform materials; as, string, straw, grasses, etc.; or else compacted of every 

 available sort of soft materials. Eggs: 4 or 5, rarely 6; thin-shelled, very pale bluish 

 green, or, rarely, white (quickly fading to white upon exposure), sharply and sparingly 

 spotted, chiefly about the larger end, with dark brown, blackish, or purplish black — 

 occasionally immaculate. Av. of 42 California-taken specimens in the M. C. O. 

 coll.: 18.5 x 13.7 (.73 x .54). Season: March to July; 2 or 3 broods. 



Range of Carpodacus mexicanus. — Western United States from Oregon, 

 southern Idaho, and southern Wyoming, east upon the plains to Kansas, and south 

 throughout Lower California and to southern border of the tableland of Mexico. 



Range of C. m. frontalis. — As above, excepting the southern half of Lower Cali- 

 fornia and the southern portion of old Mexico. 



Distribution in California. — Abundant resident throughout the State below 

 Transition; numbers reduced in northwestern humid portion, and confined on deserts 

 to vicinity of water, and somewhat dependent in great central valley upon vicinity of 

 "culture"; breeds up to 6000 or 7000 feet, or exceptionally, to 8000 (Mammoth Camp, 

 Mono County); passes irregularly to higher altitudes in late summer. Found also 

 on all islands contiguous to California. 



Remark. — An alleged form, dementis, originally described by Mearns (Auk, 

 xv., 1899, pp. 258-261), from San Clemente Island, is here relegated to synonymy. 

 I quite agree with Howell's conclusion (Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 12, 1917, pp. 73-75) 

 that we have "not a single constant character whereby dementis can be identified." 



Authorities. — Audubon {Fringilla frontalis), Ornith. Biog., vol. v., 1839, pp. 230- 

 232; Gambel, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., ser. 2, vol. i., 1847, pp. 53-54 (habits); 

 Keeler, Zoe, vol. i., 1890, pp. 172-176, pi. vi. (life history) ; Beal, Biol. Surv. Bull., no. 

 30, 1907, pp. 13-23, pi. ii. (food) ; Grinnell, Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool., vol. 7, 191 1, pp. 

 I 79 _I 95 (coloration); Tyler, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 9, 1913, pp. 74-75 (status in 

 Fresno district); Shepardson, Condor, vol. xvii., 1915, pp. 100-101 (laying in nests of 

 other birds). 



A KINDERGARTEN teacher of our acquaintance tells of a little 

 girl in her care who shows a precocious interest in birds. One day when 

 the teacher was exhibiting some skins of local birds, a linnet was held up 

 for identification. "Oh, I know what that is," cried the tot excitedly, 



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