THE FINCHES. 85 



habits, by Col. M'Call, we extract from Cassin's 

 "Birds of America:" 



" I found this charming little Finch abundant at 

 Santa F6 (New Mexico), where it commenced nest- 

 ing in March, although the weather was still wintry, 

 and so continued, with frequent snow-storms, for 

 more than a month. Notwithstanding this, the song 

 of the male failed not to cheer his mate during in- 

 cubation, with the liveliest melody. The notes often 

 reminded me of the soft trill of the House Wren, 

 and as often of the clear warble of the Canary. The 

 males of the last year, though mated and apparently 

 equally happy and quite as assiduous as their seniors, 

 were not yet in full plumage, having little or nothing 

 of the red colors that mark the adult birds. 



" The nests which were stuck into every cranny 

 about the eaves and porticoes of the houses through- 

 out the town, were variously composed of dry grass, 

 fine roots, horse-hair, long pieces of cotton twine, or 

 strips of old calico ; in fine, of countless odds and 

 ends, that were picked up about the yards; these 

 were curiously and firmly interwoven, so as to make 

 a warm and comfortable abode for the new-comers. 



" His disposition toward other birds appeared to be 

 mild and peaceful, as I had many opportunities to 

 observe. I will mention one instance. In the piazza 

 of the house I occupied, quite a colony of these birds 

 had their nests : here the work of building and in- 

 cubation had gone on prosperously for several weeks, 

 although the weather at times was stormy and cold, 

 and ere the genial warmth of Spring was fairly felt, 

 8 



