Nesting oj the Ruddy Finch. 101 



Nesting of tlie Eiiddy Finch 



(Carpodacus 7nexiccmus) . 

 By W. Tesciiemaker, B.A. 



This handsome FMnch is a native of Mexico, l)ut is 

 very closely allied to, or, more probably, a local race of C. 

 frontalis of California. There are presumably several of these 

 local races because I have noted well marked dilTorences of 

 type in individual specimens. It has some general resemblance 

 to our Linnet, but it is a longer, larger bird, with stouter beak 

 and broader head. The back and wing coverts are asliy, 

 streaked and mottled with dai'k brown; flights and i-ectrices 

 dark brown; rump, forehead and throat crimson. Hens are 

 brownish, but some show a trace of red on the rump. This 

 species closely resembles the EuroiJeun Carmine t'incli (C. 

 erythrinus) but the latter has a good deal more crimson in 

 the plumage, especially on the lower breast. 



Any bird which is called Carpodacus is sure to be 

 partial to buds, and the Ruddy Finch is no exception, its 

 depredations in fruit gardens causing it to lie as much de- 

 tested by gardeners as the Bullfinch is in this country. A 

 single pair in the course of a very few days so completely 

 stripped a privet hedge in my aviary of its leaves, that they 

 left absolutely nothing but bare twigs and even these they 

 severely pruned. 



I had a nest of this species in 1909 but the eggs did 

 not hatch. Last season I obtained another pair from Mr. 

 Cross and turned them out on 20th March. Although they 

 came into my hands only a few days after they reached this 

 country the crimson of the male's plumage had already turned 

 into a sickly yellow. They may possibly have ])een kept 

 in confinement for some time before exportation, but tliere is 

 no doubt that this shade is the most evanescent of all. In this 

 connection it may be of interest to mention that our Editor 

 very kindly gave me on the 10th March last year a Pink- 

 browed Finch (to replace one that I had lost), which had 

 been imported in the spring of 1908 (having therefore under- 

 gone two autumnal moults in this country) and had completely 

 lost its handsome crimson plumage. It was indistinguishalile 

 from one that I had moulted in the house and another that 



