54 PURPLE FINCH. 



hair and strips of fibrous bark from the cedar. The nest 

 measures about four and a half inches in diameter. Eggs, four 

 or five in number, oval inform, bluish green in color, spotted 

 and dotted irregularly with black, lilac and sometimes with 

 umber. The black markings occasionally form lines. The 

 eggs closely resemble those of the Chipping Sparrow, but are 

 larger. Dimensions, .85 by .dd. 



General Habits. The Purple Finch is a common spring, 

 summer, and autumn resident in New England and a few re- 

 main all winter as far north as Massachusetts, Avhile large 

 flocks are found throughout our limits all the year round. This 

 irregularity in migrating is quite likely due to food supply. 



"When the elm trees are about to bloom, the Purple Finches 

 feed upon the bursting buds and also upon the petals of the 

 apple blossoms. In winter, they feed upon seeds and berries 

 of the cedar. They eat but few insects even in summer, hence 

 are but little benefit to the husbandman. 



They breed in May, often placing their nests in cedars 

 sometimes only a few feet from the ground, and 1 have known 

 several to breed in adjacent trees, forming little communities. 

 The males breed and sing when in the gray plumage, and it 

 has been stated by some ornithologists that this gray plumage 

 is a color phase, which once assumed is worn through life and 

 that tlie crimson dress is often acquired immediately after the 

 first or nestling plumage without any intermediate gray phase; 

 but while these statements may be true, more evidence, is 

 required to prove them. The Purple Finches occasionally 

 wander as far south as Jacksonville, Florida. 



Song. The ordinary carol of the Purple Finch is a lively, 

 rippling melody which is very pleasing. Contrary to the rule 



