AECTIO GROUND-FINCH. 
165 
Ground Robin, is never heard in the western wilds, our present species 
uttering in its stead the common complaint, and almost mew, of the Cat-bird. 
On the 14th of June, I saw the nest of this species, situated in the shelter of 
a low undershrub, in a depression scratched out for its reception. It was 
made of a rather copious lining of clean wiry grass, with some dead leaves 
beneath, as a foundation. The eggs were four, nearly hatched, very closely 
resembling those of the Towee, thickly spotted over, but more so at the 
larger end, with very small, round, and numerous reddish chocolate spots. 
As usual, the pair shewed a great solicitude about their nest, the male in 
particular approaching boldly to scold and lament at the dangerous intru- 
sion. This species extends into Upper California, and is occasionally seen 
there with the brown species of Swainson, Pipilo fuscusP 
Mr. Townsend informs me, that it is called “ Chlawa-th’l” by the 
Chinook Indians, and is abundant on the banks of the Columbia, where it 
is found mostly on the ground, or on bushes near the ground, rarely ascend- 
ing trees. His description of the nest and eggs agrees precisely with that 
of Mr. Nuttall. 
The eggs of this bird in my possession measure an inch and an eighth in 
length, and seven-eighths in breadth. They are broadly rounded at the 
larger end, and fall off rather abruptly at the other extremity. The spots 
and markings are vermilion, intermixed with larger spots of neutral tint, 
on a pure white ground. 
Male, 81 ; wing, 3L Female, 8 ; wing, 34. 
Columbia river, and northward to the Fur Countries. Abundant. Mi- 
gratory. 
Pyrgita (Pipilo) arctica, Arctic Ground-Finch , Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., 
vol. ii. p. 260. 
Arctic Ground-Finch, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 589. 
Arctic Ground-Finch, Fringilla arctica , And. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 49. 
Adult Male. 
Bill short, robust, narrower than the head, conical, somewhat compressed 
toward the end, acute ; upper mandible almost straight in its dorsal outline, 
being very slightly convex, the ridge narrow and well-marked, the sides 
convex, the edges somewhat inflected, the tip a little declinate ; lower man- 
dible with the angle short and broad, the dorsal line slightly convex, the 
sides rounded, the edges involute, the point acute. The nostrils basal, 
roundish, open, partially concealed by the feathers. The gap-line nearly 
straight, a little deflected at the base. 
Head rather large, ovate ; neck shortish ; body robust. Legs of moderate 
length, rather stout ; tarsus of moderate length, compressed, covered ante- 
Vol. III. 28 
