145 



BROWN SONG-FINCH. 



Fringilla cinerea, Ginel. 

 PLATE CLXXXVIII.— Male. 



Of this bird I have received the following account from Mr. Nuttall: — 

 "This species, so much allied to Fringilla iliaca by its brown colour, inha- 

 bits the woody districts of the Columbia, very generally as far as the sea- 

 coast, and continues as far south as Upper California. It is a somewhat 

 familiar and agreeable songster, mounting some low bush, and singing, at 

 intervals, for hours together, much in the manner of the Song Sparrow, but 

 with a sweeter and more varied tone. We heard their cheerful notes through- 

 out the summer; and every fine day in winter till the month of November, 

 particularly in the morning, their song was still continued. The nest and 

 eggs are scarcely distinguishable from those of the Song Sparrow, the former 

 being chiefly formed of dry grass, and lined with finer blades of the same, 

 or with deer hair. They keep much in low ground and alluvial situations, 

 amidst rank weeds and brambles, where they are frequently to be seen hop- 

 ping and searching after insects, like so many Wrens or Swamp Sparrows, 

 which they so much resemble also in plumage. They are as usual very 

 solicitous for the safety of their young or eggs, keeping up an incessant 

 chirp, and are nearly the whole summer, like the Song Sparrow, engaged in 

 the cares of breeding. We have found this species also very common in 

 Upper California. 



Mr. Townsend speaks of it as follows: — "This species inhabits several 

 hundred miles of the Platte country in great numbers, as well as the banks of 

 the Columbia river. It affects generally the low bushes of wormwood 

 {Artemisia), from the summit of which it pours forth a variety of pretty 

 notes. It appears to be a very pugnacious species. Two of them, probably 

 males, are often observed fighting in the air; the beaten party goes off crest- 

 fallen, and the conqueror repairs to the nearest bush, where he tunes his pipe 

 to a lively and triumphant stave in honour of his victory. I again met with 

 this bird, though not plentiful, in June 1825, on the waters of the Columbia 

 river near the mouth of Lewis river. I never observed it in the vicinity of 

 the lower settlements. The sexes are almost precisely alike in plumage. 



Platte river, North California, and Columbia river. Common. Migratory. 



