THE BIRD BOOK 
533. Pine Siskin. Spinus pinus. 
Range. — Breeds from northern United States 
northward, in the Alleghanies and in the Rock- 
ies south to New Mexico. Winters throughout 
the United States. 
Siskins are of the size of the Goldfinch (5 
inches long), and their calls, songs and habits 
are similar to those of this bird. Their plum- 
age is grayish brown, streaked with dusky and 
the bases of the wings and tail feathers are 
yellow. Like the Crossbills, 
they frequently feed along our 
northern borders, but very spor- 
adically. Their nests are built 
on horizontal branches of pines 
or cedars at any elevation from 
the ground, being made G f Greenish white 
grasses and rootlets lined with hair or pine 
needles, and of rather frail and flat construc- 
tion. Their eggs are laid during May or June 
Pme Siskin and are greenish white, specked with reddish 
brown; size .68 x .48. Data. — Hamilton Inlet, 
Labrador, June 17, 1898. Nest on branch of a spruce, 10 feet from the ground; 
made of grass, lined with moss and feathers. Collector, L. Dicks. 
534. Snow Bunting. Plectrophenax nivalis nivalis. 
Range. - Breeds in the Arctic regions, and winters irregularly in large flocks 
through the United States to Oregon, Kansas 
and Georgia. 
These birds are only seen in the United 
States in large roving flocks, 
during the winter when they 
*V' % ' > feed on weed seeds on side 
/ " hills. Their nests are built 
■ ' • 'Jr on the ground, being sunk 
-si r into the spagnum moss, and 
made of grasses lined with 
Greenish white feathers. Their four or five 
eggs are a light greenish white, spotted and 
splashed with yellowish brown and lilac. Size 
.90 x .65. 
534a. Prikij.of Snow Bunting. Plectro- 
phenax nivalis townsendi. 
Range. — Pribilof and Aleutian Islands, Alaska. 
A slightly larger variety which is resident 
on the islands in its range. Eggs like those 
of the preceding; laid from May to July. 
Snowflake 
332 
