FRIXGILLID.E — THE FINCHES. 4(35 



Carpodacus purpureus, vai. californicus, Baird. 



THE CALIFOHNIA PITRPLE FINCH. 



Carpodacus californicus, Baikd, Birds N. Am. 1S58, 413, pi. Lxxii, f. 23. — CooPEK k 

 Suf.KLEY, 196. — CuOPEU, Oiu. Cal. I, 154. 



Sp. Char. Similar to purpureus. Tliird quill longest; first shorter than the fourth. 

 Purple of head and rump much darker than in C. purpureus ; tlie head with a broad 

 supra-orhital lateral band of lighter purple. Length 6.20; -wing, 3.20; tail, 2.60. 



Hab. Pacific Province of United States. 



The female of the western tjipe 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 0. 'purpureus there is usually a well-marked whit- 

 ish band across the ends of the middle coverts, while the greater coverts, 

 though margined externally by paler, have a still lighter bar across the pos- 

 terior extremity, which is not seen in the western bird. 



Habits. The Californian Purple Finch is found throughout the Pacific 

 coast, from the Straits of Fuca to California, as far south as Monterey. Dr. 

 Cooper states that this species is rather a northern bird, being common at the 

 Columbia River, and even farther north, while m California it has not been 

 found south of Monterey on the coast, and Fort Tejon in the Sierra Xevada. 

 In summer they frequent the mountain forests, especially those in part com- 

 posed of Conifcra:. In winter they descend to the valleys, where they are 

 found associating with the more common and familiar C. frontalis. He met 

 with them in May on the summits of the coast range toward Santa Cruz, 

 but tliey were not very numerovis. They then had nests, though he did not 

 succeed in finding them. 



The song of the California Linnet is quite loud and varied, often resem- 

 bling that of otlier birds, especially Vircos and Dcndroiccv, for which Dr. 

 Cooper has often mistaken it. Their food consists of seeds, berries, and the 

 buds of trees. Their nest and eggs are unknown, but probably resemble 

 those of C. piirpiire2(s. 



Carpodacus frontalis, Sclater. 



HOUSE LINNET ; CRIMSON-FEONTED FINCH ; BURION. 



Friiujilla fronUdis, Say, Long's Exped. 1!. Mts. II, 1S24, 40. ^For other s}Tion}Tnes see 

 under the different varieties.) 



Sp. Char. Bill short, nearly as deep as broad ; culmen much curved, commissure arched : 

 lower mandible nearly as deep as the upper. Tail more than three fourths as long as 

 wing, slightly emarginated. Wing and tail feathei-s without reddish edges ; lower tail- 

 59 



