462 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



to the waroliiigs of the Virco Jlavifrons, but the jjassages in its song as much 

 excel those of the Yireo in sweetness as they are surpassed in richness by 

 the Avarbliugs of the latter. 'WHien one of two females of this species had 

 been killed, the survivor, missing her companion, returned immediately to 

 the tree and hopj)ed from branch to branch, and then alighted on the ground 

 by the side of her dead associate, lamenting her in sweet and plaintive cries. 



By the 4th of A\m\ tlie i)ine-trees about Carson City were alive with 

 tliese handsome birds, all of whom were in full song. So many were singing 

 simultaneously tiiat the chorus was almost deafening, yet was most ex(.|iiisitely 

 pleasing. 



The nests of this bird were found by ilr. Eidgway in various situations, 

 such as a box-elder bush, tlie tops of cottonwood and aspen trees, and simi- 

 lar situations. The eggs, four in number, are in size .82 by .63 of an inch, 

 oval in shape, pointed at the smaller end, of a liglit bluish-green ground, dot- 

 ted around the larger end with slate, lilac, and a blackish-brown. 



Specimens were obtained by Dr. Sartorius, during the breeding-season 

 (June, 1864), in the pine forests of Mt. Orizaba. A careful comparison 

 shows no difference from birds procured in the same montli in Nevada. 



Carpodacus purpureus, Gray. 



EASTERN PUEPLE FINCH. 



Fringilla purpurea, Gmelin, Syst. Xat. I, 1788, 923. —Wilson, Am. Orn. I, 1808, 119, 

 pi. vii, f. 4. — Ib. V, 1812, 87, pi. xlii, f. 3. — Aud. Orn. IJiog. I, 1831, 2i ; V, 200, 

 pi. iv. Htcmorrhous purpurea, Swainson", Birds, II, 1837, 295. Eruthroffpiza pur- 

 purea, Bp. List, 1838. — Aud. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 170, pi. excvi. Carjmdacits jmr- 

 pureus. Okay's Genera, 1844-49. — Bon. & Schleoel, Mon. des Loxien.s, 14, tab. xv. 

 — B.4.IIID, Birds N. Am. 1858, 412. — Samuels, Birds N. Eng. 285. ? Loxia violacea, 

 LiNX. Syst. Nat. 1766, 306, 43. (Very uncertain.) Purple Finch, Catesby, Pen- 

 nant, Lath. Hemp-Bird, BAitTRAM. 



Sp. Char. 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 con- 

 tinuously to the lower part of the breast, and in spots to the tibiaj. The belly and under 

 tail-coverts white, streaked faintly with brown, except in the very middle. Edges of 

 wings and tail-feathers brownish-red ; lesser coverts like the back. Two reddi.sh bands 

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

 Length, 6.2.5 inches; wing, 3.34; tail, 2..50; bill above, .46. Female. 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. 



Hab. North America, from Atlantic to the high Central Plains. 



H.\i?iTS. The Purple Finch is a common species from Georgia to the 

 plains of the Saskatchewan, and as far west as the Great Plains, beyond which 

 it seems to be replaced Ijy anotlier race, or closely allied species. It breeds 

 from about latitude 40° to perhaps 60°, and in most parts between these 



