2j6 PINE FINCH. 



many lesser ranges of the Alleghany. While here, they are 

 often so tame as to allow you to walk within a few yards of 

 the spot where a whole flock of them are sitting. They flutter 

 among the branches, frequently hanging by the cones, and 

 uttering a note almost exactly like that of the goldfinch (F. 

 tristis). I have not a doubt but this bird appears in a richer 

 dress in summer in those places where he breeds, as he has so 

 very great a resemblance to the bird above mentioned, with 

 whose changes we are well acquainted. 



The length of this species is four inches ; breadth, eight 

 inches ; upper part of the head, the neck, and back, a dark 

 flaxen colour, streaked with black ; wings black, marked with 

 two rows of dull white or cream colour ; whole wing-quills, 

 under the coverts, rich yellow, appearing even when the wings 

 are shut ; rump and tail-coverts, yellowish streaked with dark 

 brown ; tail-feathers, rich yellow from the roots half way to 

 the tips, except the two middle ones, which are blackish 

 brown, slightly edged with yellow ; sides under the wings, of 

 a cream colour, with long streaks of black ; breast, a light 

 flaxen colour, with small streaks or pointed spots of black ; 

 legs, purplish brown ; bill, a dull horn colour ; eyes, hazel. 

 The female was scarcely distinguishable by its plumage from 

 the male. The New York siskin of Pennant * appears to be 

 only the yellow bird {Fringilla tristis) in his winter dress. 



This bird has a still greater resemblance to the siskin of 

 Europe (F. spi?ius), and may perhaps be the species described 

 by Turton f as the black Mexican siskin, which he says is 

 varied above with black and yellowish, and is white beneath, 

 and which is also said to sing finely. This change from 

 flaxen to yellow is observable in the goldfinch ; and no other 

 two birds of our country resemble each other more than these 

 do in their winter dresses. Should these surmises be found 

 correct, a figure of this bird, in his summer dress, shall 

 appear in some future part of our work. % 



* Arctic Zoology, p. 372, No. 243. f Turton, vol. i. p. 560. 



% This is a true siskin ; and we have a very accurate description of 

 the general manners of the group in those of the individual now described 



