FRJNGILLID.E. 255 



[71.] 2. Fringilla (Zonotrichia) leucophrys. (Swainson.) White- 

 crowned Finch. 



Genus, Fringilla, Linn. Sub-genus, Zonotrichia, Swains. 



Emberiza leucophrys ( White-crowned Bunting). Forster, Phil. Trans., lxii., p. 403, 



No. 26 ; and p. 426, exact description. 

 White-crowned Bunting. Penn. Arct. Zool., ii., p. 355, No. 221, pi. xvi., No. 221 ; 



lowest figure. Wilson, iv., p. 49, pi. 31, f. 4. 

 Fringilla leucophrys. Bonap. Syn., p. 107, No. 167. 

 Cussawbawtawseesh. Cree Indians. 



This species bears a great resemblance to the White-throated Finch, and is 

 scarcely distinguished from it by the residents at Hudson's Bay. It is, however, 

 a more northern bird, and extends its summer visits to the extremity of the 

 continent. It breeds in all parts of the fur-countries, arriving in the middle of 

 May, and departing early in September to the northern parts of the United 

 States, where it winters. A few appear in Pennsylvania in severe seasons only. 

 It makes short flights, and is much on the ground, feeding on grass-seeds and 

 grubs. The male sings, from a low perch, a short, clear, and pleasant song. 

 The nest is built on the ground, of grass, lined with hair ; and the eggs, gene- 

 rally five, are celandine-green, marbled thickly with chocolate-red, particularly 

 at the great end. 



DESCRIPTION 



Of a male, killed at Fort Franklin, lat. 65J°, May 30, 1827. 



Colour. — Upper part of the head marked by three stripes of white, separated by two of 

 deep black. The middle of the back and the wing coverts very dark reddish-brown, forming 

 stripes, with narrow, pale brownish-grey margins. The posterior part of the back with the 

 tail coverts hair-brown, and totally unspotted. Quill and tail feathers liver-brown, with pale 

 edgings : the greater primaries edged with dull white, the secondaries with chestnut-brown. 

 Two white bands on the tips of the wing coverts. Chin and belly white ; throat and breast 

 French-grey ; flanks and under tail coverts brownish-grey. Bill reddish-orange, tipped above 

 with brown. Legs pale-brown. 



Form. — Bill a little smaller and more acute than that of F. Pennsylvanica. Wings 

 moderate, two inches shorter than the tail. Third quill the longest, barely exceeding the 

 second and fourth, and two lines longer than the first and fifth. Tail nearly even. Feet 

 like those of F. Pennsylvanica ; outer and inner toe nearly equal, the middle toe lengthened. 



The female is coloured like the male. 



