Finch WESTERN BIRDS 



feeding upon the fallen ones strewn over the ground. 

 It is sometimes hard to distinguish these birds from 

 our common House Finch, or Linnet, which is so abun- 

 dant in California. One can tell them by the note 

 which is a sharp pit with an asperant sound, while the 

 Linnet's is a loud, canary-like note. The Purple Finches 

 are heavier than the Linnets and the females are easily 

 distinguished by the white line over the eye of the 

 former, and the whiter flanks. The male Finch has his 

 under parts streaked only on the sides, instead of all 

 over as has the Linnet. 



In the west we have still another crimson Finch which 

 is enough like the others to make identification difficult. 

 This bird, known as the Cassin's Purple Finch (P. cas- 

 sini), ranges from northwestern Montana, and north- 

 eastern Wyoming, west along the coast to southern Cali- 

 fornia, Arizona, and New Mexico. It differs little from 

 the California Purple Finch in plumage, having, how- 

 ever, a duller rump, unstreaked under parts, and distinct 

 streaks on under tail coverts, the top of the head having 

 a more squarish patch of che crimson. 



These birds are mountain lovers, raising their fam- 

 ilies in fir or pine trees and seldom coming down into 

 the valleys even in their winter migrations, seeming 

 to prefer wandering in bands along the brush-covered 

 mountain sides. 



In their musical ability and habits they resemble the 

 rest of their tribe. 



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