BIRDS OF DURHAM AND VICINITY. 71 
none after the twenty-third of that month. The seeds of the different 
varieties of birch are largely eaten by Redpolls, and, when the <^roimd 
is covered with snow, are their main dependence. I have never seen 
a Redpoll getting seeds from any of our coniferous trees. 
Astragalinus tristis. Amekican Goldfinch. 529. 
The Goldfinch, Yellow Bird, or Thistle Bird is a common perma- 
nent resident. It is eminently gregarious at all seasons, though in 
mid-summer when breeding is going on, the flocks are small. It is a 
bird of the field, pasture, and highway, only going to the woods when 
driven by hunger, to procure seeds from trees. In summer the males 
are conspicuous objects where thistles and dandelions are sending forth 
their plumed seeds. The nest is a neat and compact structure usually 
built in a maple, and as a rule, near a dwelling. Family cares are 
delayed till late in the season, July or even August, and I have known 
young to be in the nest the second week in September. The winter 
dress is assumed by the first of October and then flocks begin to 
increase in size. Each flock finds a satisfactory feeding-ground, 
where ragweed or some other herb with persistent seed abounds, and 
so long as the food supply holds out, remains pretty closely in its 
neighborhood. So long as the ground is bare their dark winter suits 
render them, while gleaning, very difficult to see. The summer dress 
is not complete till late in May. 
Spinus pinus. Pine Siskin. 533. 
The Siskin is another visitant that only appears at irregular, and 
generally long intervals. It is usually a winter bird, comiing in Octo- 
ber, and going in April, but I have known it to spend the summer in 
central New Hampshire, and suspect it visits Durham now and then 
at all seasons. During the fall of 1899, it was an abundant species 
here. It is fond of coniferous trees, the seeds of which furnish most 
of its food till they fall in autumn or early winter, when birches become 
its purveyors. Its general habits remind one of the Crossbills. 
Passerina nivalis. Snowflake. 534. 
Snow Buntings usually appear on the sand-hills near the ocean 
toward the end of October and remain till the following April. They 
frequently make m.ore or less extended excursions inland, but rarely 
remain in any given locality more that a few hours. The southward 
flight reaches its maximum in November and the majority go north 
