145 
BROWN SONG-FINCH. 
Fringilla cinerba, Gmel. 
PLATE CLXXXVIIL— Male. 
Of this bird I have received the following account from Mr. Nuttall: — 
*• This species, so much allied to Fringilla iliaca by its brown colour, inha- 
bits the woody districts of the Columbia, very generally as far as the sea- 
coast, and continues as far south as Upper California. It is a somewhat 
familiar and agreeable songster, mounting some low bush, and singing, at 
intervals, for hours together, much in the manner of the Song Sparrow, but 
with a sweeter and more varied tone. We heard their cheerful notes through- 
out the summer ; and every fine day in winter till the month of November, 
particularly in the morning, their song was still continued. The nest and 
eggs are scarcely distinguishable from those of the Song Sparrow, the former 
being chiefly formed of dry grass, and lined with finer blades of the same, 
or with deer hair. They keep much in low ground and alluvial situations, 
amidst rank weeds and brambles, where they are frequently to be seen hop- 
ping and searching after insects, like so many Wrens or Swamp Sparrows, 
which they so much resemble also in plumage. They are as usual very 
solicitous for the safety of their young or eggs, keeping up an incessant 
chirp, and are nearly the whole summer, like the Song Sparrow, engaged in 
the cares of breeding. We have found this species also very common in 
Upper California. 
Mr. Townsend speaks of it as follows : — “ This species inhabits several 
hundred miles of the Platte country in great numbers, as well as the banks of 
the Columbia river. It affects generally the low bushes of wormwood 
(. Artemisia ), from the summit of which it pours forth a variety of pretty 
notes. It appears to be a very pugnacious species. Two of them, probably 
males, are often observed fighting in the air ; the beaten party goes off crest- 
fallen, and the conqueror repairs to the nearest bush, where he tunes his pipe 
to a lively and triumphant stave in honour of his victory. I again met with 
this bird, though not plentiful, in June 1825, on the waters of the Columbia 
river near the mouth of Lewis river. I never observed it in the vicinity of 
the lower settlements. The sexes are almost precisely alike in plumage.” 
Platte river, North California, and Columbia river. Common. Migratory, 
VJ 
