other allied species may mistaken for tk§ jCriinson-necked, Bullfinch
; two of these,, belonging*;®; the genus JPyrrhula, present so,
much analogy with the p r e s e n tly pies, judging from.their descrip;,
tions, that we doubted ,the correctness,of giving the latter a separate
place* considering it identical with JPyrrhula erythrina of Temminck,
whose description agrees better with it than that iofia^ptn^'. Yet, in
addition to some differences discoverable by comparing the Crimson-
necked Bullfinch with his .description; we cannot admit, that an arctic
bird, of the .old continent, known to visit even the more northern,
portion of the temperate'climates, only-during very] ccdd winters, and
then not $eiy regularly, should be found, Ih^tlip^onth, of July, on
the« sultry. plains of the Arkansaw, and „of course breeding there.-; fi|Ye
therefore, conclude that, •©ha’- bird is not the erythrina, although we
regret/our inability to give differenlial characters lia\ ingtncvcia^ficn-
that.species,- as our endeavours to obtain a specimen ha\c not be.eia»
attended with :suc<cess.,.,iThe southernjresjdenoefof; our, bird, might-
lead ussitt) suppose it Xheifoocia,. (JPyrrhula^. vtplgjBfay;which, we have
notr sepn* neither do(^e,, think the species well .established.. But, if
we are to rely on the-short description given of it, and on Catesbyist,
figure,-we GaUnoUipereeive. much resemblance between-them; their
identity, howev'er^ would not ntfucK surprise us, when w e . Consider
th£fc’X3atesh.yJs figure of ^^~PyrrhUla'Miol^ea\ is as much like oufj
bird, as his figure of the Purple Finch is like what it is .intended-', to
represent. Having the authority of Say, --XSg consider it as new,;
notwithstanding th^fe doubts.
. KT-he Crimson-necked Bullfinch was procured by. Long’s party, near
the Rocky Mountains, and Say described it in the journal of that
expedition, underfhe name of Fringilla frontalis, adopting that genus
in the cQmprehensiye limits assigned by Illiger and Cuvier v The
specific , name given by Say is preoccupied in that genus by an African'species;
but, as we consider our bird a Pyrrhula, we think proper
to retain his; name.
The Crimson-necked Bullfinch is five-inches and a half long. The
bill and fdtekare horn 0©foW*'; the lower' mandible is paler; the irides
.ai?e dark brown. The headyneck- beneath, and superior portion of
the breast, are brilliant crimson;- most intense near the bill and over
the 'eyd^f thef-§p5'eo#h^fcwblen‘, the 'bill' and ‘thê'©yes!! is cinereous-gray,
as well as thtftMu&Ksfciund the1 smalMèatKër^immediately around the
bill; the crimson feathers are brown at base, being red only at tip.
Th!e$ dheiput^ anid thë&l!jSikiabo;v'e and qitf ea!eh’sia?ëJ* are brown, with
a'reddish-AéÊ?% lliët feathers* Weihg* margined with pale; the back is
dusky-brownish;*t f i^ h A ^ a n d superior tail" coverts are crimson,
but. leS§ï" vivid than that'(*©!? thé head»;* the ;inferior1 portion of the
breast, the’-bèl'ly, and vent, ardiwhitishy each feather having a broad
fusöous- Efflêy the general 4flSnfi®^is lead colour at biseu1 The wings
aisfê' blackish-brown, the primaries being broadly margined within,
towardis the IS ^ ^ i/^ h ^ h itis h ,* andl'e^spriorSy edged 'with? grayish;'
th^ö^^wifids'Sëhöhdariésï'St^bdgêdfwith dull grayish. The tail is
blackish-brown* hardly?f>èmarginated; the lateral feathers are edged,
pifi the inner%®e$ with whitish.
-V« SttÖfirM^i8»S*'8ehcription specimen; but as it was
p'hoctttëd when summer wast far- afdv^Véedf-1 a sealsori- in'-'wtóelt thd
plumage begins to fadd,' i#!fs^proper fofbbservey- that; the colouring
bSpthis bird is probably much more brilliant in its full spring dress,
the crimson extending much further down- on the back,; As th#
s'eSsom- advances} the- tip^of the feathers, which are the only parts- of
a^cajShiSOni colour, being gradually worn’ off,» the bird as gradually
ISseSats brilliancy, and, M tB&'hutkmhaTand winter plumage,- exhi-
bifetfoe humble^^féaiEaU’eë^bf the ffemife j
' The female is altogether destitute5 df the brilliant colour, being
dusky-brown above, the feathers margined on each side- with* dull
whitish; the whole inferior’shrfake’i§'#Mtish', each feather having a
brown longitudinal' Iitae in the middle,' óbstoléte On the vent, which is-
almost pure whited'
A’ change similar to that e aB # ^ mentioned, takes place in the
Purple Fmch,’ Whose habits also much resemble those of the Crimson