ARCTIC GROUND-FINCH. 1(55 



Ground Robin, is never heard in the western wilds, our present species 

 uttering in its stead the common complaint, and almost mew, of the Cat-bird. 

 On the 14th of June, I saw the nest of this species, situated in the shelter of 

 a low undershrub, in a depression scratched out for its reception. It was 

 made of a rather copious lining of clean wiry grass, with some dead leaves 

 beneath, as a foundation. The eggs were four, nearly hatched, very closely 

 resembling those of the Towee, thickly spotted over, but more so at the 

 larger end, with very small, round, and numerous reddish chocolate spots. 

 As usual, the pair shewed a great solicitude about their nest, the male in 

 particular approaching boldly to scold and lament at the dangerous intrusion. 

 This species extends into Upper California, and is occasionally seen there 

 with the brown species of Swainson, Pipilo fuscusP 



Mr. Townsend informs me, that it is called "Chlawa-th'l" by the 

 Chinook Indians, and is abundant on the banks of the Columbia, where it is 

 found mostly on the ground, or on bushes near the ground, rarely ascending 

 trees. His description of the nest and eggs agrees precisely with that of 

 Mr. Nuttall. 



The eggs of this bird in my possession measure an inch and an eighth in 

 length, and seven-eighths in breadth. They are broadly rounded at the 

 larger end, and fall off rather abruptly at the other extremity. The spots 

 and markings are vermilion, intermixed with larger spots of neutral tint, on 

 a pure white ground. 



Male, 8^; wing, 3|. Female, 8; wing, 3|. 



Columbia river, and northward to the Fur Countries. Abundant. Mi- 

 gratory. 



Pyrgita (Pipilo) arctica, Arctw^ flinch. Swains. and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. 



ii. p. 260. 

 Arctic Ground-Finch, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 589. 

 Arctic Ground-Finch, Fringilla arctica, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 49. 



Adult Male. 



Bill short, robust, narrower than the head, conical, somewhat compressed 

 toward the end, acute; upper mandible almost straight in its dorsal outline, 

 being very slightly convex, the ridge narrow and well-marked, the sides 

 convex, the edges somewhat inflected, the tip a little declinate; lower man- 

 dible with the angle short and broad, the dorsal line slightly convex, the 

 sides rounded, the edges involute, the point acute. The nostrils basal, 

 roundish, open, partially concealed by the feathers. The gap-line nearly 

 straight, a little deflected at the base. 



Head rather large, ovate; neck shortish; body robust. Legs of moderate 

 length, rather stout; tarsus of moderate length, compressed, covered ante- 



Vol. III. 2S 



