THE CALIFORNIA PURPLE FINCH. 95 



OF tlie streaked, streaky is this demure and inoffensive bird in tiie 

 olivaceous plumage, in which we usually see him, and always see her. But 

 the sharpness and magnitude of the dusky streaks above and below confer 

 a measure of distinction, even when there is no trace of the adult crimsons, 

 miscalled purple. This finch is a familiar object about the gardens, orchards, 

 and parks in Western Washington. It moves about for the nnjst part silently, 

 inspecting" birds and flowers, sampling fruit, or gleaning seeds from the 

 ground in company with its own kind, or with the humbler and equally 

 streaked Siskins. While not altogether dependent uixju human bounty, it 

 probably owes more to man than does any other native species. 



Wright's Park, in Tacoma, appears to lead the state by two weeks in the 

 early budding of its flowering plants, and here Purple Finches appear to the 

 best advantage. In the luxuriant bushes of the red flowering currant (Ribes 

 saiiguiiiciiin) one may see them feeding during the last week of March. The 

 Finches pluck the flowers assiduously, and either eat the fleshy part at the 

 base, the tender ovary, or else press out the nectar just above, or both. A 

 flower is first plucked off whole and held in the bill, while the bird appears to 

 smack its lips several times ; then the crimson corolla is allowed to drop upon 

 the ground, which thus becomes carpeted with rejected beauty. Like many 

 related species, the California Finch is rather unwary, so that one may study 

 his behavior at close range. 



Because the Purple Finch is usually so unolrtrusive, we are startled at the 

 first outburst of spring song. Nothing more spontaneous could be desired, 

 and the mellow, musical yodelling of this bird is one of the choicest things 

 allowed us on the West-side. The song is midway between a trill and a 

 carol, and has a wild cjuality which makes it very attractive. The notes are 

 so limpid and penetrating that one is sometimes deceived as to the distance 

 of the singer, supposing him to be in a neighboring copse when, in truth, he 

 occupies a distant fir-top. Cheedoorecdooree doorec doorcc dooree dooree 

 douree drccetorcct may afford an idea of the rolling, rollicking character of 

 the song, but is, of course, absurdly inadequate. 



A master singer among the Purple Finches once entertained us from 

 the top of a fir tree a hundred feet high. He was in the dull plumage, that 

 is, without red ; and altho he sang briskly at intervals we were not prepared 

 for any unusual e.xhibition of vocal powers on his part. It was a long time, 

 therefore, before we put the cry of a distant Steller Jay up' toi him. Our 

 suspicions once aroused, however, we caught not only the Steller Jay cry, 

 unmistakably, but also half a dozen others in swift and dainty succession, 

 after the usual Purple Finch prelude. I clearly recognized notes of the 

 Flicker, Steller Jay, Canary. American Crossbill, and Seattle Wren. These 

 imitati\e eft'orts varied in correctness of execution, and came to us with the 



