ECONOMIC RELATIONS OF OUR BIRDS. 
535 
84. Chrysomitris pinus (Bartr.), Bp. PINE LINNET.. Group I. Class a. 
This species is quite erratic in its luoveiuents, causing tlie time of its occurrence 
and its abundance to vary greatly. Ordinarily it is only a winter resident. A 
few may breed in the state. Mr. Trippe observed it in great numbeis in the fall 
in Minnesota, and Mr. Jordan is said to have taken it in midsummer near Indian¬ 
apolis. Evergreen forests are its favorite haunts, but those of deciduous trees, 
willow and alder thickets, iields and gardens are also visited by it. It is said to 
frequent apple orchards, at times, where it feeds upon plant-lice. 
Food: Small weed and grass seeds. 
Black alder and pine seeds (Wilson). Spruce, juniper, alder and willow seeds 
(Cooper). Pme and larch seeds (De Kay). Pine seeds (Samuels). Berries of 
sweet gum (Audubon). Seeds of grasses and weeds (Brewei). 
85. Astragalinus tristis (Linn.), Cab. AMERICAN GOLDFINCH; 
THISTLE-BIRD. Group I. Class b. 
This elegant little Finch is one of our most abundant birds, and, to a consid¬ 
erable extent, resident throughout the year. In its less showy winter dress, 
how’ever, it is not so well known. Its almost universal distribution thioughtlie 
open fields, pastures and meadows, together with its tendency to unite only in 
small fiocks, completely counteract the concentrating tendency of its gregarious 
nature, so that, practically, its effects are those of a bird which is not grega¬ 
rious. Few birds are more completely graminivorous than it; but it feeds so 
extensively upon the seeds of noxious weeds that the little giain and gaiden 
seeds which it eats are but a just compensation for the service it renders. No 
class of seeds suit it so well as those of the Composite Family, which are readily 
hulled, and the service which the Thistle-bird renders in destroying the seeds of 
the almost uncontrollable Canada thistle, throughout the Eastern and Middle 
States, must be very great. Mi^ith us it renders an equal service by destroying 
the seeds of the pasture thistle, and those of other troublesome weeds. Dr. 
J. M. W^heaton states that it feeds upon the Hessian-fly. I have seen it feeding 
upon the plant-louse mentioned in connection with the Purple Finch. 
Food: Thistle, dandelion, burdock, bitter-weed and lettuce seeds, seeds of fox¬ 
tail grass (Setaria viridisJ, and corn cockle, wheat, rye, and clover seed. Seeds 
of composite flowers in summer, and of cotton-wood and cockle-bur in winter 
(Cooper). Tliistle, hemp, lettuce and salad seed (Wils.). Sunflower, lettuce 
and thistle seeds (De Kay). Seeds of various weeds and grasses (Samuels). 
86. Plectrophanes nivalis (Linn.), Meyer. SNOW BUNTING; SNOW¬ 
FLAKE. Group I. Class a. 
This boreal, eminently terrestrial and gregarious species is an abundant winter- 
resident. It ’makes its appearance late in October and retires early in April. 
They frequent cultivated fields in large flocks, and feed largely upon the seeds of 
troublesome weeds. Their terrestrial habits preclude their becoming injurious 
to the buds of trees. 
Food: Seeds of black bind-weed, and foxtail grass (Setaria viridisj. 
Grass seeds, insects and small mollusks (De Kay). Seeds of various wild 
plants and small mollusks (Samuels). Larvae obtained on the houses of Greerr- 
landers (Brewer). 
