134 



PINE FINCH. 



white or cream color; 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 yel- 

 low 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 color, with long streaks of black; breast a 

 light flaxen color, with small streaks or pointed spots of black; 

 legs purplish brown; bill a dull horn color; eyes hazel. The fe- 

 male 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. spinus), and may perhaps be the species described 

 by Turton,t 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 coun^ 

 try 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, 



* Arct. Zool. p. 372, No. 243. f Turton, vol. I, p. 560, 



