1877.} 117 [Bendire. 



43. Leucosticte tephrocotis (Swainson). Gray-crowned 

 Finch. 



A winter visitor, associated with L. littoralis. During the winter 

 of 1875-6, I took a number of this species at different times, from 

 Nov. 8, 1875 to March 22, 1876. The sexes differ in coloration, the 

 brown of the breast in the males, and the red tints generally are 

 much brighter than in the females. 



44. Leucosticte littoralis (Baird). Hepburn's Finch. 

 This species is much more common here during the winter than 



the preceding, in proportion of about six to one. I have observed 

 these birds almost daily for two winters, and examined about two 

 hundred specimens by dissection, and find that there is a constant 

 difference in the coloration of the sexes. The brightest colored 

 females are easily distinguished from the dullest colored males, and 

 there is also an appreciable difference in the size between the sexes. 

 As Prof. J. A. Allen has demonstrated these points fully, I refer to his 

 article. 1 In their habits these birds are terrestrial, seldom alighting 

 on trees or bushes. Their usual call-note when lost from the flock is 

 aetch, aetch, when on the wing yu-hi-wea, and whi, hi. Their flight 

 is undulating and waving, somewhat resembling that of Colaptes 

 mexicanus. When on the ground their wings are usually trailed. 

 Their food consists principally of the seeds of Artemisia (Sagebush), 

 minute plants found on side hills not covered with snow, grass seeds, 

 and grain found about stables. About the middle of March, 1876, I 

 trapped a number, but they rapidly pined, and several died; I liber- 

 ated the balance. An egg kindly sent to me by a gentleman living 

 near Steen's Mountain (a high range about seventy miles to the south 

 of Camp Harney, and almost destitute of timber), the summit of 

 which is covered, in parts, with snow the year around, may belong to 

 this species. It is dull white in color, .85 X -65 of an inch in length, 

 considerably pointed at one end, and was found in a nest on the 

 ground near the summit of the mountain, in the latter part of June, 

 1875. The nest contained five eggs. It is probable that some of 

 this species breed on the high mountain peaks in this vicinity, and 

 that the majority go further north. 



45. Plectrophanes nivalis (Meyer). Snow Bunting. 

 Found sparingly in the vicinity of Camp Harney, Oregon, during 



the winter months. 



1 See article by Prof. J. A. Allen, in " Bulletin of the Geological and Geograph- 

 ical Survey of the Territories." Vol. n, No. 4. "Washington, July 1, 1876. 



