120 



cinnati, the winter of 1868-9. Has been seen breeding in winter. This species 

 is often accidental in Europe; often taken in Great Britain. They have been seen 

 crossing the Atlantic 600 miles off Newfoundland, before a stiff westerly breeze, 

 and ten or twelve were secured from the rigging of the vessel. Many of our 

 common land birds, following the Atlantic coast or crossing its curves, during the 

 autumnal migrations, at a great height from the land, are caught up in the great 

 belt of westerly winds, about 20° wide, having its greatest intensity about latitude 

 45°, and are carried, that is, such as do not perish, across the Atlantic to Europe. 

 Some 60 or more species of our birds have thus found their way to Europe. The 

 Bermudas, 700 miles off the nearest land (Cape Hatteras), are supplied mainly in 

 the same manner. A number of European land birds reach North America by 

 autumnal movement, by way of Iceland and Greenland, being caught up, in part, 

 by the reverse current of winds blowing from Northern Europe to Northern America, 

 And so we find the birds subjected to the great winds of heaven, which, like 

 mountain chains, forests, river courses, moisture, altitude and temperature, modify 

 the unerring impulse which, acting alone, would probably lead the bird to fly due 

 north in the spring and south in the fall, as the sun moves north or south across 

 the line, with the awakening train of animal life and vegetable growth on which 

 the life of the bird depends ever in his rear. (See Baird on "Distribution and 

 Migrations of American Birds," in American Journal of Science and Arts, vol. 

 xli. May, 1866.) 



5. ALGIOTHUS. Cabanis. Linnets. 



86. &. LINARIUS. Cab. Red Poll Linnet. Crown crimson in male and fe- 

 male ; throat, breast and rump rosy in male ; streaked above ; chin blackish ; L. 

 5/i ! ~^ • 3» T' 2/^. An abundant winter resident north; in flocks last of Octo- 

 ber; leaves in March. 



6. CHRYSOMITRLS. Boie. Goldfinches. 



87. C. TRISTIS. Bon. Am. Goldfinch, Yellow Bird, Thistle Bird. Male rich 

 yellow; rump whitish ; wing bars white; adult male with black on crown, wings 

 and tail; female more olivaceous; fall plumage pale yellow brown, assumed the 

 last of October and worn until May, when its bright nuptial dress appears. A 

 jolly little bird ; many brave the winter with us ; they are well known by the chil- 

 dren, and by them are called the " wild canary bird," which is about as distinctive 

 as its other common names. 



88. C. PINUS. Bon. Pine Linnet. Sexes alike ; no black on head ; plumage 

 streaky brown, suffused with yellow in the breeding season; smaller than the pre- 

 ceding. Common winter resident north. Dr. Jordan took a specimen in midsum- 

 mer near Indianapolis. 



7. PLECTROPHANES. Meyer. Longspuis. 



89. P. NIVALIS. Meyer. Snow Bunting. Stiow Flake, Pure white in the 

 breeding season, with black on back, wings and tail; bill and feet black; bill 

 small; hind claw long, but curved; L. 7; W. 4}^; T. 3. A beautiful bird, well 

 known to all "Hoosiers" from New England or the Upper Lake region, where 

 it is an unsuspicious bird, feeding from the door steps; readily taken in clumsy 

 traps, and as fond of a cold snow storm as a duck of water. They were quite 

 common about Indianapolis during the. extreme cold and snow of January, 1879. 



