LAWRENCE GOLDFINCH. Astragalinus lawrencei (Cassin)

Field characters—Half size of Junco. Plumage gray-appearing; yellow on under surface restricted to breast; outer surface of wing marked with yellow. Male: Chin, face, and top of head, black; wing and tail feathers chiefly black, the former showing yellow and the latter white in flight (fig. 53c); rump yellowish. Female: Lacks any black on head; general tone of color grayish brown except for yellow on wings; white markings of male dully represented. Flight like that of other goldfinches. Voice: Song of male weak but varied and distinctive. Call notes single, low, and with a tinkling quality.

Occurrence.—Uncommon summer visitant. Two individuals seen at Pleasant Valley, May 23, 1915, and specimens taken at Smith Creek, east of Coulterville, August 5 and 9, 1920.

The Lawrence Goldfinch is least common of the three species of goldfinches to be found in the Yosemite region. It was recorded by us upon only the three occasions above specified. The black chin patch of the male, the yellow instead of white edgings on the wings in both sexes, and the generally gray instead of yellow tinge of the plumage, all aid in distinguishing this goldfinch from its two relatives. With each of our three species of goldfinches, the song and call notes are so distinctive as to provide, after once learned, the readiest means of identification.

Mr. Donald D. McLean reports that this species nests occasionally on the Dudley ranch, 6 miles east of Coulterville.