2l6 FRINGILLID^ : FINCHES. 



PURPLE GROSBEAK. 



Carpodacus purpureus (Gm.) Gray, 



Chars. Male, adult : Red, most intense on the head, mixed with 

 dusky streaks on the back, fading to white on the belly and vent. 

 Wings and tail dusky, with reddish edgings of the feathers. Ruff 

 of hoary whitish feathers at base of bill ; bill and feet horn-colored. 

 The shade of red is very variable, from rosy or even bronzy to 

 intense crimson, particularly on the head ; there is little if any 

 " purple " tinge, the name " Purple " Finch, and the use of this 

 word in old descriptions, having been due to the very faulty color- 

 ing of Catesby's plate. The bird is not crested, but has a habit of 

 erecting the feathers of the head. Bill very stout and turgid. 

 Female, and young male: No red; general color olive-brown, 

 everywhere streaked with whitish, the feathers having dark cen- 

 tres and pale edges ; belly and vent white ; obscure whitish max- 

 illary and supraciliary Hnes. Males changing show every grada- 

 tion between the colors of the opposite sexes ; they frequently 

 have saffron or bronzy tints. The female resembles in color 

 some of the streaked sparrows, but will be recognized by the short 

 stout bill, small feet, long pointed wings and short emarginate 

 tail. Length, 5.75-6.25; wing, 3.00-3.25; tail, 2.25-2.50; tarsus, 

 0.60 ; middle toe and claw, 0.85 ; bill, scarcely 0.50. 



Though given by Dr. Brewer only as a " summer 

 resident," and doubtless more abundant at that season 

 than during the opposite period of the year, this charm- 

 ing bird is nevertheless found in New England at all 

 times. The "Purple Finch," or "Linnet," as it is 

 commonly called, breeds abundantly in the Canadian 

 and Alleghanian Faunae — the latter being in fact its 

 centre of abundance in the breeding season ; at which 

 time the bird is probably nowhere more numerous than 

 in Massachusetts. It mostly or entirely withdraws from 

 the northerly portions of its summer home, and great 

 num.bers spread in winter over the Middle and Southern 



