50 
CRIMSON-NECKED BULLFINCH. 
necked Bullfinch; two of these, belonging to the genus Pijrrhula, 
present so much analogy with the present species, judging from 
their descriptions, that we doubted the correctness of giving the 
latter a separate place, considering it identical with Pyrrhula 
erythrina of Temminck, whose description agrees better with it 
than that of any other. Yet, in addition to some differences dis¬ 
coverable by comparing the Crimson-necked Bullfinch with his 
description, we cannot admit, that an arctic bird of the old conti¬ 
nent, known to visit even the more northern portion of the tempe¬ 
rate climates only during very cold winters, and then not very 
regularly, should be found, in the month of July, on the sultry 
plains of the Arkansaw, and of course breeding there. We there¬ 
fore conclude that our bird is not the erythrina , although we regret 
our inability to give differential characters, having never seen that 
species, as our endeavours to obtain a specimen have not been 
attended with success. The southern residence of our bird might 
lead us to suppose it the Loxia (. Pijrrhula) molacea, which we 
have not seen, neither do we think the species well established. 
But, if we are to rely on the short description given of it, and on 
Catesby’s figure, we cannot perceive much resemblance between 
them; their identity, however, would not much surprise us, when 
we consider that Catesby’s figure of the Pijrrhula molacea is as 
much like our bird, as his figure of the Purple Finch is like what 
it is intended to represent. Having the authority of Say, we con¬ 
sider it as new T , notwithstanding these doubts. 
The Crimson-necked Bullfinch was procured by Long’s party, 
near the Rocky Mountains, and Say described it in the journal of 
that expedition, under the name of Fringilla frontalis , adopting 
that genus in the comprehensive limits assigned by Uliger and 
Cuvier. The specific name given by Say is preoccupied in that 
genus by an African species; but, as we consider our bird a Pyr¬ 
rhula , we think proper to retain his name. 
The Crimson-necked Bullfinch is five inches and a half long. 
