196 
PRAIRIE LARK-FINCH. 
height in the air, and poising themselves over their companions, with theii 
wings in constant and rapid motion, they become nearly stationary. In 
this situation they pour forth a number of very lively and sweetly modu- 
lated notes, and at the expiration of about a minute descend to the ground, 
and course about as before. I never observed this bird to the west of the 
Black Hills.” 
Mr. Nuttall's notice respecting it is as follows : — “ On the 24th of May, 
soon after crossing the north branch of the Platte, we met with this very 
interesting species of Fringilla. The males associated in flocks with the 
Cow-birds, uttering a most delightful song. Towards evening in particular, 
we sometimes saw them in all directions around us on the hilly grounds, 
rising to a little height, hovering and flapping their wings, at the same time 
singing something like weet, weet , wt, wt, wt, notes betwixt the hurried 
warble of the Bob-o-link, and the melody of the Sky Lark. It is, in short, 
one of the sweetest songsters of the prairie, is tame and unsuspicious, the 
whole employment of the little band being an ardent emulation of song.” 
Fringilla bicolor, Prairie Finch , Towns. Jour. Acad. Nat. Sc. Phil, vol. vii. p. 
189 . 
Prairie Finch, Fringilla bicolor , Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 19. 
Adult Male. 
Bill short, robust, conical, compressed; upper mandible a little narrower, 
with the dorsal line very slightly convex, the ridge slightly prolonged on 
the forehead, the sides convex and bulging, the edges direct, the gap-line 
nearly straight, deflected at the base, the tip sharp and a little exceeding 
that of the lower mandible; the angle of the latter short and very broad, 
the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the back broad, the sides 
rounded, the edges inflected, the tip pointed. Nostrils basal, oval, in a very 
short deep depression, nearly concealed by the feathers. 
Head rather large; neck short; body full. Feet of ordinary length, rather 
strong ; tarsus of moderate length, compressed, anteriorly covered with 
seven scutella, behind with two plates meeting so as to form a very thin 
edge ; toes of moderate size, the hind toe stouter, the lateral equal. Claws 
rather long, arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, tapering to a very 
acute point. 
Plumage soft and blended, the feathers ovate and rounded. There are 
distinct but small bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings of 
moderate length ; the outer three quills nearly equal, the second being 
longest, the fourth slightly shorter than the third; outer secondaries broadly 
rounded and emarginate; inner tapering to a rounded point, one of them, 
when the wing is closed, little shorter than the outer primaries. Tail of 
