164 ARCTIC GROUND-FINCH. 



Small bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Plumage full, soft, and 

 blended. Wings of ordinary length, much rounded, the fourth quill longest; 

 tail long, rounded. Roof of upper mandible rather flat, with a narrow median 

 and two broad lateral flattened ridges; tongue compressed, convex above, 

 with a median groove, horny at the end, and pointed; oesophagus slightly 

 dilated about the middle; stomach a strong muscular gizzard; intestine short; 

 cceca small. 



ARCTIC GROUND-FINCH. 



-VPipilo arcticus, Swains. 

 PLATE CXCIV Male and Female. 



This handsome species was first described by Mr. Swainson in the Fauna 

 Boreali-Americana. Dr. Richardson in the same work states, that it was 

 observed only on the plains of the Saskatchewan, where he supposes it 

 breeds, as one specimen was obtained late in July. It arrives there in the 

 end of May, and frequents shady and moist clumps of wood, being generally 

 seen on the ground. It feeds on grubs, and is solitary and retired. My 

 friend Mr. Nuttall has furnished me with the following account of it: — 



"We found this familiar bird entirely confined to the western side of the 

 Rocky Mountains. Like the common Towee, it is seen to frequent the 

 forests amidst bushes and thickets, where, flitting along or scratching up the 

 dead leaves, it seems intent on gaining a humble subsistence. It is much 

 more shy than the common kind, when observed flying off or skulking in 

 the thickest places, where it is with difficulty followed. In a few minutes, 

 however, the male, always accompanying his mate, creeps out, and at first 

 calls in a low whisper of recognition, when, if not immediately answered, he 

 renews his plaintive par par or pay pay ay, until joined by her; when, if 

 the nest be invaded, he comes out more boldly, and reiterates his complaint, 

 while there remains around him the least cause of alarm. When undisturbed 

 during the period of incubation, he frequently mounts a low bush in the 

 morning, and utters at short intervals, for an hour at a time, his monotonous 

 and quaint warble, which is very similar to the notes of the Towee; but this 

 latter note {towee) so continually repeated by our humble and familiar 



