FEINGILLID^ — THE FINCHES. 225 



While the western portions of North America possess thi-ee species 

 of this genus [C. frontalis, the famihar House Finch, of the Valley 

 portions, C. purpureus calij'ornicus, or California Purple Finch, of 

 the Pacific coast, and C. cassini, Cassin's Purple Finch, of the 

 higher mountains), but a single species occurs in the eastern por- 

 tions of the continent. This, the common Purple Finch (C. pur- 

 pureus), occurs within the United States chiefly in winter and early 

 spring, the gi-eater part of its breeding range being located beyond 

 our northern boundary. 



Carpodacus purpureus (Gmel.) 



PURPLE FINCH. 



Popular synonyms. Purple Linnet; Purple Grosbeak; Strawberry Bird (Connecticut); 

 Kosy Linnet; Roseate Grosbeali or Finch. 



. Fringilla purpurea Gmel. S. N. 1. 1788, 923.— Was. Am. Oru. i, 1808. 119, pi. 7. fig. 4; v, 1812, 

 87, pi. 43, flg. 3.— AUD. Orn. Biog. i, 1831, 24; v, 1839, 500, pi. 4.— Nutt. Man. i, 1832, 529. 



Erythrospiza purpurea Bonap. 1838.— .^ud. B. Am. iii, 1841, 170, pi. 196. 



Carpodacus purpureus Gkat.— Baikd, B. N. Am. 1858, 412; Cat. N. Am. B, 1859, No. 305.— 

 CouES, Key, 1872, 128; Clieeli List, 1873, No. 139; 2(1 ed. 1882, No. 194; B. N. W. 1874, 106.- 

 B. B. & R. Hist. N. Am. B. i, 1874, 465, pi. 21, figs. 10, 11.— Ridgw. Nom. N. A. B. 1881. 

 No. 168. 



Hab. Eastern temperate North America, but breeding chiefly north of the United 

 States; in winter, south to Gulf coast, 



"Sp. Chae. Second quill longest; first shorter than third,— considerably longer than 

 the fourth. Body crimson, palest on the rump and breast, darliest across tlie middle of 

 baclc and wing-coverts, where the feathers have dusky centres. The red extends below 

 continuously to the lower part of the breast, and in spots to the tiblas. The belly and 

 under tail-coverts white, streaked faintly with brown, except in the very middle. Edges 

 of wings and tail-feathers brownish red; lesser coverts like the back. Two reddish bands 

 across the wings (over the ends of the middle and greater coverts). Lores dull grayish. 

 Length, 6.25 inches; wing, 3.34; tail, 2.50; bill above. .46. Female. Olivaceous brown 

 above ; brighter on the rump. Beneath white ; all the feathers everywhere streaked with 

 brown, except on the middle of the belly and under coverts. A superciliary light stripe." 



Although best kno%vn as a spring migrant, when the flocks are 

 rendered conspicuous by reason of their musical warblings, the 

 Purple Fmch is a winter resident in the more southern portions of 

 the State. The writer fii-st made its acquaintance at Mount • Carmel, 

 in mid-winter, under cu'cumstances of delightful memory. The 

 ground was covered with snow, — ^the weather clear and bright, but 

 cold. Crossing a field in the outsku-ts of the town, and approacliing 

 the line of tall, dead "rag-weeds" (Ambrosia trifida) which grew 

 thickly in the fence corners, a straggling flock of birds was startled, 

 flew a short distance, und again alighted on the tall Aveed-stalks, 

 uttering as they flew a musical, metallic chink, chink. The beautiful 

 —15 



