THE PURPLE FINCH. 



'• The wind blows cold, the birds are still, 

 And skies are gray." 



,URPIvE GROSBEAK,Crim- 

 son Finch, Strawberry 

 Bird, and Linnet are some 

 of the common names by 

 which this bird of bright 

 colors, sweet song, and sociable disposi- 

 tion is known. It is very numerous 

 in New England, but is found nesting 

 regularly in the northern tier of states. 

 North and South Dakota, Minnesota, 

 Wisconsin, Michigan, etc., northward, 

 and it is said to breed in northern 

 Illinois. In Nova Scotia it is exceed- 

 ing abundant. 



Robert Ridgway says he first made 

 the acquaintance of the Purple Finch 

 at Mt. Carmel, in mid-winter, " under 

 circumstances of delightful memory. 

 The ground was covered with snow, — 

 the weather clear and bright, but cold. 

 Crossing a field in the outskirts of the 

 town, and approaching the line of tall, 

 dead rag-weeds which grew thickly in 

 the fence corners, a straggling flock of 

 birds was startled, flew a short distance, 

 and again alighted on the tall weed- 

 stalks, uttering as they flew, a musical, 

 metalic chink^ chink. The beautiful 

 crimson color of the adult males, 

 heightened by contrast with the snow, 

 was a great surprise to the writer, then 

 a boy of thirteen, and excited intense 

 interest in this, to him, new bird. On 

 subsequent occasions during the same 

 winter, they were found under like 

 circumstances, and also in ' sycamore ' 

 or buttonwood trees, feeding on the 

 small seeds contained within the balls 

 of this tree." 



Dr. Brewer says that the song of the 

 Purple Finch resembles that of the 



Canary, and though less varied and 

 powerful, is softer, sweeter, and more 

 touching and pleasing. The notes 

 may be heard from the last of May 

 until late in September, and in the 

 long summer evening are often con- 

 tinued until it is quite dark. Their 

 song has all the beauty and pathos of 

 the Warbling Vireo, and greatly 

 resembles it, but is more powerful and 

 full in tone. It is a very interesting 

 sight to watch one of these little per- 

 formers in the midst of his song. He 

 appears perfectly absorbed in his work, 

 — his form is dilated, his crest is 

 erected, his throat expands, and he 

 seems to be utterly unconscious of all 

 around him. But let an intruder of 

 his own race appear within a few feet 

 of the singer, the song instantly ceases, 

 and in a violent fit of indignation, he 

 chases him away. S. P. Cheney says 

 that a careful observer told him that 

 he had seen the Linnet fly from the 

 side of his mate directly upward fifteen 

 or twenty feet, singing every instant 

 in the most excited manner till he 

 dropped to the point of starting. The 

 Yellow-breasted Chat has a like per- 

 formance. See Vol. II of Birds, p. 238. 



The nest of the Finch is usually 

 placed in evergreens or orchard trees, at 

 a moderate distance from the ground. 

 It is composed of weed -stalks, bark 

 strips, rootlets, grasses, and vegetable 

 fibres, and lined with hair. The eggs 

 are four or five in number, dull green, 

 and spotted with dark brown. 



Study his picture and habits and be 

 prepared to welcome this charming 

 spring visitant. 



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