FINCHES. 181 



come very abundant, and also mischievous, since they " feed 

 on the stamina of various fruit-blossoms." * They also gather 

 in large flocks on the ground, where, not unfrequently in com- 

 pany with the Goldfinches or other members of their family, 

 they pick up various seeds and perhaps other food. They are 

 summer residents throughout New England, though less com- 

 mon to the northward, and frequent principally cultivated or 

 open lands, though occasionally to be met with in woods. 

 Their song may not unfrequently be heard in September, when 

 most other birds do not sing. In October they become quite 

 rare, and finally, usually before November, forsake their sum- 

 mer haunts. Those seen here in the former month are very 

 possibly migrants from the north. 



d. The music of the Purple Finch is a warbled song, which 

 would be monotonous, were it not sweet, mellow, and full- 

 toned. Both sexes sing. In autumn they often give utter- 

 ance to a few notes, which recall those of the Bluebird. Be- 

 sides their customary " chink," which they utter particularly 

 when on wing, they have a variety of less important notes. 

 The most pleasing of these is their " pewee," which is often 

 softly repeated by the females, and the most striking a single 

 whistle, to be heard chiefly or wholly in autumn, and which 

 recalls that of the Great Crested Flycatcher. 



The " Linnets " are much more common and generally dis- 

 tributed through this State than formerly, and are gradually 

 becoming quite fearless of man. They are now so tame as 

 often to build their nests in hedges, and on account of their 

 several attractions should be allowed to increase, in spite of 

 the injuries that they may do us in spring. They resemble in 

 habits the Pine Grosbeaks, from the irregularity of both their 

 appearance and abundance from year to year. In studying 

 the Purple Finches, one must not confuse their song with that 

 of the Warbling Vireo,^*^ or even with those of the Robin and 

 sonie other birds, nor the notes already mentioned with those 

 of the Great Crested Flycatcher ^~* and Bluebird.^^ 



* This, however, has not been shown ^^ § 13, I, D. 



to injure the trees, or even to reduce, ^^ § 19, II, A. 



materially, their crops of fruit. — W. B. ^^ § o. 



