COMMON SNOW-BIRD. 
491 
mixture of dusky brownish-black, with grey, white, or bay edgings 
to the feathers, the white edgings chiefly on the upper part of the 
back. Wings and tail dusky, edged with whitish, the tail only 2 
inches long, with the feathers pointed. Chin white ; sides of the 
neck, breast, and flanks with dark pointed spots edged with bay. 
Belly white. Inner ridge of the wings touched with pale yellow ; 
tertials very dark ; (the black predominates much more in this 
than in the preceding species.) Legs pale flesh-color, the hind claw 
long and sharp. Bill above dusky, below purplish, inclining to yel- 
low, notched slightly near the point. — Male with more white on the 
chin, breast, and sides of the face. 
Note. There is little doubt, but that the young of this species 
is the F. hiemalis of Gmelin and Pennant, though the wing-coverts 
are not edged with real white ; Wilson’s name, however, must re- 
main, as the Linneean hiemalis is also a synonyme of the Snow-Bird. 
COMMON SNOW-BIRD. 
(Fringilla nivalis, Lin. ( F . hudsonia), Wilson, ii. p. 129. pi. 16. 
fig. 6. [in winter plumage,] F. hiemalis , Audubon, ph 13. Orn. 
Biog. i. p. 72. Phil. Museum, No. 6532.) 
Sp. Charact. — Bluish-black, inclining to grey; belly and lateral 
tail-feathers white. 
This hardy and very numerous species, common to 
both continents, pours in flocks from the northern re- 
gions into the United States about the middle of October, 
where their appearance is looked upon as the presage of 
approaching winter. At this season they migrate into 
the Southern States in great numbers, and seem to arrive 
in augmenting hosts with the progress of the wintry 
storms and driving snows, before which they fly for food 
rather than shelter ; for, even during the descent of the 
whitening inundation, and while the frightful tempest still 
rages without abatement, these hardy and lonely wander- 
ers are often seen flitting before the blast ; and, seeking 
advantage from the sweeping current, descend to collect 
