142 THE FOX-COLOURED FINCH. 



powers of the Finch, however, appeared almost too much for the master 

 songster of our woods; it desisted for a moment, out of breath, and we could 

 observe its pantings; but it did not fail to resume its hitherto unknown cha- 

 racter of tyrant. A servant was despatched to the rescue, and peace was 

 restored; but the Finch was almost reduced to its last gasp, and shortly after 

 expired. This very Mocking-bird we strongly suspected of being the indi- 

 vidual that had killed a Blue Jay of exceedingly meek disposition, a few 

 weeks before. It was ultimately removed into a lonely cage, where it is yet 

 passing its days, perhaps in unavailing penitence. 



The Fox-coloured Finch is found abundantly on the Columbia river. It 

 breeds in the woody districts of the Fur Countries, up to the 6Sth parallel. 

 About Boston it is abundant during summer, generally skulking in the 

 bushes and avoiding observation. It passes through Massachusetts on its 

 way south in the first week in November, and returns about the 10th of 

 April. It is very easily approached, and its note is extremely beautiful. 



In this species the palate is moderately ascending, deeply concave, with 

 two prominent lines, at the meeting of which anteriorly is a small soft 

 projection. The upper mandible is moderately concave, with a prominent 

 middle line and two lateral ridges. The width of the mouth is 5 1 - twelfths. 

 The tongue is 4 twelfths long, compressed, channelled above, horny, rather 

 obtuse, somewhat spoon-shaped at the point, as in the Pine Finch. (Eso- 

 phagus 2 1 - inches long, its greatest width 4^ twelfths, being slightly dilated 

 towards the lower part of the neck. The stomach is roundish, 7 twelfths 

 long, 6 twelfths broad; its lateral muscles rather strong, the epithelium tough, 

 longitudinally rugous. Intestine 9% inches long, from 3 twelfths to 2 twelfths 

 in width: cceca 3? twelfths long, |- twelfth in width, 1 inch distant from the 

 extremity. Trachea 1 inch 8 twelfths long, 1 twelfth in breadth; the rings 

 72, and 2 dimidiate, firm; bronchial rings about 15; the muscles as usual. 



Male, 7£, 10 1 -. Female, 7^. 



Dispersed in winter throughout the Southern and Western Districts. 

 Breeds from Nova Scotia to Labrador and the Fur Countries. Rather 

 common. 



Fox-coloured Sparrow, FringUla rufa, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. iii. p. 53. 



Fringilla iliaca, Bonap. Syn., p. 112. 



Fringilla (Zonotrichia) iliaca, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. p. 257. 



Ferruginous Finch, FringUla iliaca, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 514. 



Fox-coloured Sparrow, FringUla iliaca, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. ii. p. 58; vol. v. p. 512. 



Adult Male in summer. 



Bill short, robust, conical, acute; upper mandible broader than the lower, 

 almost straight in its dorsal outline, as is the lower, both being rounded on 



