164 
ARCTIC GROUND-FINCH. 
Small bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Plumage full, soft, and 
blended. Wings of ordinary length, much rounded, the fourth quill longest ; 
tail long, rounded. Roof of upper mandible rather flat, with a narrow me- 
dian and two broad lateral flattened ridges ; tongue compressed, convex 
above, with a median groove, horny at the end, and pointed ; oesophagus 
slightly dilated about the middle ; stomach a strong muscular gizzard ; in* 
testine short ; coeca small. * 
ARCTIC GROUND-FINCH. 
Pipilo arcticus, Sivains. 
PLATE CXCIY. — Male and Female. 
This handsome species was first described by Mr. Swainson in the Fauna 
Boreali-Americana. Dr. Richardson in the same work states, that it was 
observed only on the plains of the Saskatchewan, where he supposes it 
breeds, as one specimen was obtained late in July. It arrives there in the 
end of May, and frequents shady and moist clumps of wood, being generally 
seen on the ground. It feeds on grubs, and is solitary and retired. My 
friend Mr. Nuttall has furnished me with the following account of it : — 
“ We found this familiar bird entirely confined to the western side of the 
Rocky Mountains. Like the common Towee, it is seen to frequent the 
forests amidst bushes and thickets, where, flitting along or scratching up 
the dead leaves, it seems intent on gaining a humble subsistence. It is 
much more shy than the common kind, when observed flying off or skulking 
in the thickest places, where it is with difficulty followed. In a few minutes, 
however, the male, always accompanying his mate, creeps out, and at first 
calls in a low whisper of recognition, when, if not immediately answered, 
he renews his plaintive par par or pay payay, until joined by her ; when, if 
the nest be invaded, he comes out more boldly, and reiterates his complaint, 
while there remains around him the least cause of alarm. When undisturbed 
during the period of incubation, he frequently mounts a low bush in the 
morning, and utters at short intervals, for an hour at a time, his monotonous 
and quaint warble, which is very similar to the notes of the Towee ; but 
this latter note (towee) so continually repeated by our humble and familiar 
