BIRDS — FRINGILLIDAE — CARPODACUS CALIKORNICU8. 



413 



List of specimens. 



CARPODACUS CALTFORNICUS, Baircl. 



Western Fnrple Finch. 



Sp. Ch. — Similar to purpurctis. Tliird quill longest; first sliorler than the fourth. I'urpic of head and rump much 

 darker than in C purpureas ; the head wilti a broad supraorbital lateral ba liglitur purple. Length, (j.2 ; wing, 3.20 ; 



tail, 3.60. 



//ufc. — Pacific coast of United States. 



In the exarainatioa of a large series of skins (over sixty in number) of tlie western purple 

 finch, I have found differences which indicate either a decided geographical variety^ or a distinct 

 species from the typical eastern C. purpureus. The size appears somewhat less. The upper 

 mandible appears lower in proportion to the inferior one, and is darker than in eastern 

 specimens. The culmeu is more curved, and lacks the gentle concavity on the basal portion. 

 The male is of a considerably darker purple, especially on the head and the rump ; that on the 

 former in quite strong and abrupt contrast to the back, instead of fading gently into it. 

 The sides of the crown are of a lighter purple than elsewhere, giving rise to quite a conspicuous 

 supraorbital stripe, scarcely or not at all appreciable in eastern skins. 



The female of the western type differs from that of the eastern in being more olivaceous above, 

 and in having the streaks below rather larger, and not so well defined. There appears to be a 

 difference in the marking of the wings. In eastern C. purpureus there is usually a well marked 

 whitish band across the ends of the middle coverts, while the greater coverts, though margined 

 externally by paler, have a still ligliter bar across the posterior extremity, which is not seen in 

 tlie western bird. 



The wing formula of the two species differs very greatly, the third quill in the western bird 

 being generally longest, instead of the second ; the first shorter than the fourth, instead of 

 much longer, and shorter than the third. 



