538 G R E A T C I N E R E O U S S H R I K E .
The grey of the upper parts tinged with brown, the white of the
lower with yellowish-brown, in other respects the same.
Young bird. Plate C X C I I . Fig. 4.
The bill greyish-blue, at the end brownish-black, the upper parts
grey, deeply tinged with brown, with which the quills and their coverts
are margined; the upper tail-coverts transversely barred ; the whitish
line over the eye less distinct, the ear-coverts dark brown, the lower parts
pale grey, tinged with brown, and undulated all over; the four middle
tail-feathers black.
The older the birds are, the more pure and pale does the grey of the
upper parts become, while the undulations of the lower parts gradually
disappear, although I have not seen an individual in which they were altogether
obliterated.
On comparing this bird with the Lanius Excubitor of Europe, I cannot
perceive any differences that could induce me for a moment to conceive
them distinct. The relative length of the quills, the length of the
bill and tarsus, the general form, size, and colouring, differ in no essential
respect. I am, therefore, decidedly of opinion that our Shrike is the
same bird as that which occurs in Europe. The old female, as has been
stated above, differs little in tint from the old male, the younger birds
only (of both sexes) being deeply browned. A fine adult male which was
shot near Edinburgh, and is preserved in the beautiful Museum of the
University of that city, agrees in all respects with specimens from America
in my possession.
CRATAEGUS APIIFOLIA, Mich. Fl. Amer. vol. i. p. 287- Pursh, Fl. Amer. Sept. vol. i.
p. 336—ICOSANDRIA PENTAGYNIA, Linn. ROSACEA, JUSS.
This species of Hawthorn bears a great resemblance to that so common
in Europe. It grows on the banks of rivers and in damp woods in
several of the Southern States, and attains a height of twelve or fifteen
feet. The leaves are somewhat triangular in their general outline, incisolobate,
the lobes acute and deeply toothed; the flowers white, and the
berries ovate or oblong, of a deep red colour.
( 539 )
LINCOLN'S FINCH.
FRINGILLA LINCOLNII.
P L A T E C X C I I I . MALE AND FEMALE.
WE had been in Labrador nearly three weeks before this Finch was
discovered. One morning while the sun was doing his best to enliven the
gloomy aspect of the country, I chanced to enter one of those singular
small valleys here and there to be seen. The beautiful verdure of the
vegetation, the numerous flowers that grew sprinkled over the ground,
the half-smothered pipings of some frogs, and the multitudes of mosquitoes
and flies of various sorts, seemed to belong to a region very different
from any that I had previously explored. But if the view of this favoured
spot was pleasing to my eye, how much more to my ear. were the
sweet notes of this bird as they came thrilling on the sense, surpassing in
vigour those of any American Finch with which I am acquainted, and
forming a song which seemed a compound of those of the Canary and
Wood-lark of Europe. I immediately shouted to my companions, who
were not far distant. They came, and we all followed the songster as it
flitted from one bush to another to evade our pursuit. No sooner would
it alight than it renewed its song; but we found more wildness in this
species than in any other inhabiting the same country, and it was with
difficulty that we at last procured it. Chance placed my young companion,
THOMAS LIXCOLN, in a situation where he saw it alight within shot,
and with his usual unerring aim, he cut short its career. On seizing it,
I found it to be a species which I had not previously seen; and, supposing
it to be new, I named it Toms Finch, in honour of our friend
LINCOLN, who was a great favourite among us. Three cheers were
given him, when, proud of the prize, I returned to the vessel to draw
it, while my son and his companions continued to search for other specimens.
Many were procured during our stay in that country. They
became more abundant and less shy the farther north we proceeded, but
no longer sang, in consequence of the advance of the season. We did
not, however, succeed in finding a nest.
The habits of this sweet songster resemble those of the Song Sparrow.
Like it, mounted on the topmost twig of the tallest shrub or tree it can