THE FINCHES AND SPARROWS. 133 



have been known to injure fruit orchards by feeding upon the 

 buds, but this is a rare occurrence. Professor Aughey found 

 that five Nebraska specimens taken during winter had eaten, 

 along with various seeds, a large number of eggs of the Rocky 

 Mountain locust. The pine grosbeak is one of the largest 

 species of this family in the more northern States. 



The Purple Finch is a handsome and somewhat familiar 

 bird, found throughout nearly all of the United States. It is 

 migratory and usually goes in flocks, except during the breed- 

 ing season. In the Northern States its nest of vegetable iibre 

 is frequently placed on trees near houses. Unfortunately, the 

 feeding habits of this species are not all that could be desired. 

 Many years ago an cm incut ornithologist wrote concerning 

 the purple finch : "This is a winter bird of passage, coming 

 to us in large flocks from the North in September and Octo- 

 ber; great numbers remaining with us in Pennsylvania 

 during the whole winter, feeding on the seeds of the poplar, 

 button- wood, juniper, cedar, and on those of many rank 

 weeds that flourish in rich bottoms and along the margins of 

 creeks. When the rainy season is very severe, they proceed 

 to the South, as far at least as Georgia, returning north early 

 in April. They now frequent the elm-trees, feeding on the 

 slender but sweet covering of the flowers ; and as soon as the 

 cherries put out their blossoms they feed almost exclusively 

 upon the stamens of the flowers ; afterwards the apple- 

 blossoms are attacked in the same manner ; and their depre- 

 dations on these continue until they disappear, which is 

 usually about the tenth or middle of May." Many later ob- 

 servers have seen the purple finch eating the tender portions 

 of the buds and blossoms of apple, cherry, plum, and peach, 

 although little real damage seems to be done by it, and, as a 

 partial offset, it is also known to devour aphides and various 

 caterpillars. 



The beautiful little American Goldfinch, or Thistle-Bird, 

 is familiar to all residents of temperate North America who 



