Merrill on Winter Plumage of Gray-crowned Finch. 75 
NOTES ON THE WINTER PLUMAGE OF LEUCOSTICTE 
TEPHR 0 CO T IS, Sw, AND L. TEPHROCOTIS var. L1T- 
TORALIS, Bd. 
BY DR. J. C. MERRILL, U. S. A. 
The question of the possibility of distinguishing with certainty 
the sexes of the Gray-crowned Finch by the plumage alone has 
been warmly contested by several ornithologists. The following 
remarks are based upon the examination of thirty-five specimens 
of the Gray-crowned Finch ( L . tephrocotis ) and twelve specimens of 
Hepburn’s Finch (var. littoralis ), which numbers probably represent 
the comparative abundance of the two forms in this vicinity (Fort 
Shaw, Montana), for they were shot without selection as oppor- 
tunity offered. 
These Finches were first noticed here shortly before Christmas, 
when a heavy snow-storm and very cold weather (the mercury 
solidifying on several occasions) brought many birds about the 
Fort for food and shelter. Of these, Snow Buntings and Shore 
Larks (var. leucolcema') were the most abundant, and mingled with 
them were Red-polls and the present species. During the most 
severe weather the Finches, when not feeding, sought shelter in 
Cliff Swallows’ nests under the eaves of the stables, — a habit I did 
not observe in the other species. From that time to the present, 
about two months, the birds have been quite common, but only 
during storms ; they appear about the buildings within an hour or 
two of the first fall of snow, and remain until the storm is over. 
They are now to be found for a day or two among the weeds in the 
post garden, and then disappear until the next storm ; nor has 
diligent search revealed their haunts at these intervals. Though 
very tame, and associating freely with the Buntings and Larks 
while in the Fort, at the garden the Finches are usually seen in 
small flocks by themselves, or with the Red-polls. Here they are 
restless rather than shy, continually rising without apparent cause, 
to settle immediately near the same spot. The only note I have 
heard is a rather musical chink. On dissection the oesophagus was 
always found distended with the seeds of a small weed. Both 
Finches mingle indiscriminately. At this season of the year they 
are alike in having the bill yellow with dusky tip, iris brown, the 
legs and feet brownish black. 
