986 rmeuns, SPAR uows, ETC. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Irving/v.7“Southern Greenland in summer, migrating: south, in winter, 
     
     through Labrador to (sparingly) the northern border of the L'nited States 
     
     (New England, lower lludson Valley, northern Illinois, ete.), and west to 
     
     Manitoba" tilidngt - 
     
    

    
     Sing Sing, A. V. Cambridge, irregular \V. \'., Nov. to Feb. 
     
    

    
     “The Greater Redpoll is often rather common, and in February, 
     
     1883, it occurred along the seacoast near Boston in positive abundance. 
     
     On the 19th of this month Mr. Spelman and 1 took thirteen specimens 
     
     at Revere Beach in about two hours; and on the 22d, at Nantasket 
     
     Beach, two young collectors, by a few random shots into an excep- 
     
     tionally large, mixed flock of Redpolls, secured forty specimens, of 
     
     which six proved to be A. [Warm and thirty-four rostrum. 
     
    

    
     “As one sees them in winter in New England, the forms just men- 
     
     tioned, with A. hm‘wmannii errilt'pes, do not differ appreciably in 
     
     notes, habits, or general appearance. It is true that A. l. rostrum 
     
     may be often recognized by its superior size, but the birds as a rule 
     
     are so nervous and restless, and when in large flocks so constantly in 
     
     motion and so likely to depart altogether at any moment, that a free 
     
     use of the gun is ordinarily indisl’ieusable to positive identification” 
     
     (Brewster, Minot’s Land Birds and Game Birds, 2d ed., App, p. 472). 
     
    
   
   
    
     529. Spinus tristis (Lima). AMERH‘AN Goran-axon; YELLOW- 
     
     an: '1‘]ns'rm;»initn. All. a.AC‘1‘()\\'n—eap black; back and under parts 
     
     bright yellow; wings black, the eoverts and seeondaries tipped with white; 
     
     tail black. the feathers with white on their inner Webs. Ad. 9.7Upper 
     
     parts grayish brown with an olive tinge; wings and tail as in the a, but 
     
     somewhat more dusky and the white nun-kings less distinct: under parts 
     
     whitish. washed with bufl‘y brown and more or less tinged with yellow. espe- 
     
     cially on the throat. All. 6 in winter. Similar to the ad. 9. but with the 
     
     wings and tail as in summer. I 3-10: W., ; T., 1-05; 1))” '40. 
     
    

    
     vanyt/.~l£:istei‘11 North Amerita; breeds from South ("arolina to southern 
     
     Labrador; winters from the northern ['uited States to the Gulf. 
     
    

    
     Washington, common I’. R. Sing Sing, common 1’. R. Cambridge, very 
     
     common 1’. R. ' 
     
    

    
     JIM. externally of fine, grasses. strips of bark, and moss. thickly lined 
     
     with thistle down. in trees or bushes, five to thirty feet up. Eggs, three to 
     
     six. pale bluish white, ‘63 x 45'. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
         
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Except when nesting, Goldfinches are generally found in small 
     
     flocks. Few birds seem to enjoy life more than these merry row-rs. 
     
     Every month brings them a change of fare. and in pursuit of fresh 
     
     daint ios the nesting-time is delayed almost until summer begins to wane. 
     
    

    
     Seed-bearing plants. whether in field or garden. form their larder: 
     
     the old sunflowers rattle before their vigorous attack; the thistles 
     
     spring into sudden blossom of black and gold as they swing from the 
     
     nodding heads.