BULLFINCHES. 533 



was neatly and compactly formed. They seem indeed 

 much attached to evergreens, frequenting their shade, 

 during the heat of the day. They sing at various times, 

 but most vigorously in the morning and evening. From 

 another person who has also seen the nest of this species, 

 I learn, that it is commonly in an evergreen, contains 

 very few eggs or young, and that they raise but a single 

 brood in the season, which are not hatched before mid- 

 summer. 



The Crimson Finch is from 6 to 6^ inches in length, and 9 or 

 more in alar extent. Crimson, much deeper on the head and chin ; 

 the breast and rump paler, inclining to rosaceous. The back appears 

 much spotted Avith dusky. The wings and tail are also dusky, edged 

 with reddish ; vent and centre of the belly white ; the sides under 

 the wings clouded with dull brownish. Legs brownish flesh-color. 

 Bill dull, dark horn-color. Irides hazel. In young males, the crim- 

 son feathers of the head and neck, are sometimes edged with rose- 

 color, so that the brilliant tint is only seen by reflected light ; as 

 the margins, however, wear off", the vesture, in early spring, attains 

 its proper color. Audubon observes, that among the flocks which 

 winter in the South, there are as man}'- red individuals as in sum- 

 mer ; here they are less common at that season ; it is therefore not 

 improbable that the young males proceed farther south, generally, 

 than either the females or younger birds. Mr. Cooper remarks, that 

 in the vicinity of New Yori the purple are as common as the brown 

 birds. 



BULLFINCHES. (Pyrrhula. Briss.) 



L\ these birds the bill is short, robust, thick, convex-conic, turgid 

 at the sides, compressed at the point, the upper mandible acute, and 

 obviousl}^ curved, as well as the inferior more or less j palate smooth 

 and scooped. Nostrils basal, lateral, rounded, and most commonly 

 concealed by the feathers of the frontlet. Tongue thick, and some- 

 what fleshy. Tarsus shorter than the middle toe, which is united 

 at base to the outer. — Wings rather short ; the 3 first primaries 

 graduated, the 4th longest. Tail slightly rounded or square. — The 

 female differs considerably from the male. They moult generally 

 twice in the year. 



45* 



