242 
PINE FINCH. 
feathers rich yellow 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 colour, 
with long streaks of black; breast a light flaxen colour, with 
small streaks or pointed spots of black; legs purplish brown; 
bill a dull horn colour; eyes hazel. The female was scarcely 
distinguishable by its plumage from the male. The New York 
Siskin of Pennant^ appears to be only the Yellow-bird {Frin- 
gilla tristis) in his winter dress. 
This bird has a still greater resemblance to the Siskin of Eu- 
rope {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 yel- 
low is observable in the Goldfinch; and no other two birds of 
our country 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. 
t Turton, vol. i, p. 560. 
