THE FINCHES. 225 



While the western portions of North America possess three species 

 of this genus (C. front alls, the familiar House Finch, of the Valley 

 portions, C. purpnreus calif or nicus, or California Purple Fmch, of 

 the Pacific coast, and C. cassini, Cassin's Purple Fmch, of the 

 higher mountains), but a single species occurs in the eastern por- 

 tions of the continent. This, the common Purple Finch (C. pur- 

 pureus), occurs within the United States chiefly in winter and early 

 spring, the greater part of its breeding range being located beyond 

 our northern boundary. 



Carpodacus purpureus (Gmel.) 



PURPLE FINCH. 



Popular synonyms. Purple Liiiuet; Purple Grosbeak; Strawberry Bird (Connecticut) ; 

 Rosy Linnet; Koseate Grosbeak or Finch. 



Fringillapurpnrea GMEL. S. N. i, 1788, 923. WILS. Am. Orn. i, 1808, 119, pi.' 7, fig. 4; v, 1812. 

 87, pi. 43, fig. 3. AUD. Orn. Biog. i, 1831, 24; v, 1839, 500, pi. 4. NUTT. Man. i, 1832, 529. 

 Erytlirospiza purpurea BONAP. 1838. Aur>. B. Am. iii, 1841, 170, pi. 196. 

 Carpodacus purpureus GEAT. BATED, B. N. Am. 1858, 412; Cat. N. Am. B, 1859, No. 305. 

 COUES, Key, 1872, 128; Check List, 1873, No. 139; 2d ed. 1882, No. 194; B. N. W. 1874, 106. 

 B. B. & B. Hist. N. Am. B. i, 1874, 465, pi. 21, figs. 10, ll.-KiDGW. Norn. N. A. B. 1881, 

 No. 168. 



HAB. Eastern temperate North America, but breeding chiefly north of the United 

 States; in winter, south to Gulf coast. 



"Sp. CHAE. Second quill longest; first shorter than third, considerably longer than 

 the fourth. Body crimson, palest on the rump and breast, darkest across the middle of 

 back and wing-coverts, where the feathers have dusky centres. The red extends below 

 continuously to the lower part of the breast, and in spors to the tibia?. The belly and 

 under tail-coverts white, streaked faintly with brown, exc n">t in the very middle. Edges 

 of wings and tail-feathers brownish red ; lesser coverts like the buck. Two reddish bands 

 across the wings (over the ends of the middle and greater coverts). Lores dull grayish. 

 Length, 6.25 inches; wing, 3.34; tail, 2.50; bill above, .46. Fi-inah. Olivaceous brown 

 above; brighter on the rump. Beneath white; all the feathers everywhere streaked with 

 brown, except on the middle of the belly and under coverts. A superciliary light stripe." 



Although best known as a spring migrant, when the flocks are 

 rendered conspicuous by reason of their musical warbLngs, the 

 Purple Finch is a winter resident in the more southern portions of 

 the State. The writer first made its acquaintance at Mount Carmel, 

 in mid-winter, under circumstances of delightful memory. The 

 ground was covered with snow, the weather clear and bright, but 

 cold. Crossing a field in the outskirts of the town, and approaching 

 the line of tall, dead "rag-weeds" (Ambrosia t ri.fi da) which grew 

 thickly in the fence corners, a straggling flock of ba'ds was startled, 

 flew a short distance, und again alighted on the tall weed-stalks, 

 uttering as they flew a musical, metallic chink, chink. The beautiful 

 15 



