FRIXGILLID.E — THE FIXCIIES. 4(55 



Carpodacus purpureus, v;ir. californicus, Baikd. ^ o^y 



THE CALIFORNIA PURPLE FINCH. 



Carpoducus californicus, Baird, Birds N. Am. ISOS, 4l:J, pi. Ixxii, f. 23. — Coopek & 

 SucKLEY, 196. — C'uoi'EU, Oi-n. Cal. I, 15i. 



Sp. Char. Similar to 2>nr2iii7-eus. Third ([uill longest; first shorter than the fourth. 

 Purple of head and rump much darker than in C. purpureus ; tlie licad with a broad 

 supra-orbital lateral band of hghter purple. Length 6.20; wing, 3.20 ; tail, 2.G0. 



Hab. Pacific Province of United States. 



The female of the western type differs from that of the eastern in 

 being more olivaceous above, anil in having the streaks below rather larger, 

 and not so well defined. Tliere appears to be a difference in tlie marking 

 of the wings. In eastern C. ^n'rp/urKs there is usually a well-marked whit- 

 ish band across the ends of the middle coverts, while the greater coverts, 

 thongli margined externally by paler, have a still lighter bar across the pos- 

 terior extremity, which is not seen in the western bird. 



Habits. The Californian Purple Finch is found throughout the Pacific 

 coast, from the Straits of Fuca to ( 'alifornia, as far south as IMonterey. Dr. 

 Cooper states that this species is ratlier a northern l)ird, being common at the 

 Columbia Piiver, and even farther north, while in California it lias not been 

 found south of Monterey on the coast, and Fort Tejon in the Sierra Nevada. 

 In summer they fret[uent tlie mountain forests, especially those in part com- 

 posed of Cviii/cnr. In winter they descend to the valleys, where they are 

 found associating with the more common and familiar C. frontalis. He met 

 \\'ith them in May on the summits of the coast range toward Santa Cruz, 

 but they were not ^•ery numerous. They then had nests, though he did not 

 succeed in finding them. 



The song of the California Linnet is quite loud and varied, often resem- 

 bling that of otjier liirds, especially Vinos and Dciulroicce., for which Dr. 

 Cooper has often mistaken it. Their food consists of seeds, berries, and the 

 Ijuds of trees. Their nest and eggs are unknown, but jirobably resemble 

 those of C. pvrpureufi. 



Carpodacus frontalis, Sclater. 



HOUSE LINNET; CRIMSON-FBONTED FINCH; BURION. 



FrinrfiUii fronlulis, Sat, Long's Exped. R. Mts. II, 1824, 40. (For other synonymes see 

 unduv the different varieties.) 



Sp. Char. Bill short, nearly as deep as broad ; culnien much curved, commissure arched ; 

 lower mandible nearly as deep as the upper. Taif more than three fourths as long as 

 wing, slightly emarginated. AVing and tail feathers without reddish edges ; lower tail- 

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