CASSIN'S BULLFINCH 263 



Casual records. — Casual in fall and winter in the Komandorskie 

 Islands, Korea (Hamgyong Puktu), Japan (Honshu), northeastern 

 China (northern Hopei), and Sakhalin Island. 



Accidental in Alaska (St. Lawrence Island, Nunivak Island, 

 Nulato). 



CARPODACUS PURPUREUS NESOPHILUS Burleigh and Peters 



Newfoundland Purple Finch 

 Contributed by Charles H. Blake 



Habits 



In their description of this subspecies Bui'leigh and Peters (1948) 

 distinguish it from the eastern race as follows: "upperparts in both 

 sexes decidedly darker. Pileum of adult males deep maroon purple, in 

 contrast to the deep wine purple of purpureiLS. Underparts duller 

 and lacldng the pinkish tinge of the nominate race. Females and 

 subadult males less olive above, with the whitish streaks of the 

 back broader and more numerous. In size, both sexes average slightly 

 larger than purpurev^." 



Whether these distinctions are sufficient for the recognition of the 

 subspecies is questionable. Further discussion will be found in 

 Blake (1955). However, the Check-List Committee of the A.O.U. 

 has recognized the race. 



There is no evidence that the habits of the Newfoundland form 

 differ in any essential way from those of the eastern purple finch. 

 It is a fairly common summer resident from mid-May to late Sep- 

 tember. Four or five eggs compose the clutch. (Peters and Burleigh, 

 1951.) 



This race has not been detected with certainty outside Newfound- 

 land. 



Distribution 



Range. — Newfoundland to Georgia. 



Breeding range. — The Newfoundland purple finch breeds in New- 

 foundland (Bay of Islands and Glenwood south to Tompkins and 

 St. John's). 



Winter range. — Winter range is imperfectly known. Recorded 

 from Maryland (HyattsviEe) , North Carolina (Swannanoa, Asheville), 

 and Georgia (Amstell, Smyrna, Athens). 



Casual records. — Casual in Illinois (Cook County). 



