402 NUUTII AMKKK/AX UIKDS. 



to tlio warulini^'s of tlic Viiri> ll)iri/rit,is,\\\\{ tin* pass;i<,'«'s in its son^ as iimcli 

 t'xcrl tliost' n{ ilu* \'in'o in swcftm'ss as they aru suipa-ssud in I•i(•ilnt•^ss by 

 the \vail>iin"S of tin* latter. Wlim inie of two iVmales of this species had 

 l»een kille(l, the sm\ ivnr, missing hn- cnnipanion, returned ininiediately to 

 the tree and hopped IVoni hraneh to hraneh, and tlicn alighted on the ground 

 hy the side of her <leail ass^u-iate, lanjenting her in >\veet and plaintive eries. 



By the 4th of April the pine-trees alM)Ut (arson City were alive with 

 thes«* handsome birds, all of whom \\v\v in full song. So many were singing 

 simultaneously that the chorus was almost deafening, yet was most extpiisitely 

 pleasing. ' 



The nests of this bird were found by Mr. Ilidgway in various situations, 

 such a.s a bo.x-eMer bash, the to|)s of c(»ttonwo(Hl and asi)en trees, and simi- 

 lar situations. The eggs, four in nund)ei', are in size .S'J by .«'»:_) of an inch, 

 oval in shape, pointed at the smaller end, of a light bluish-green ground, dot- 

 ted around the larger en«l with slate, lilac, and a l>laekish-brown. 



Specimens were obtained by Dr. Sartorius, during the breeding-season 

 (June, 18()4), in the ]>ine forests of Mt. Orizaba. A careful comparison 

 shows no difference from birds procured in the same month in Nevada. 



Carpodacus purpureus, Gu.w. 



EASTEB9 FtJBPIE FIHCH. 



Friuijilhi piirpurai, Gmklin, Syst, Nat. I, 17S8, 923. ~ AViLsoy, Am. Orn. I, 1S08, 110, 

 pi. vii, f. 4. —In. V, 1812, 87, pi. xlii, f. 3. — Ai'i». (^rn. Hi(>«,'. I, 1831, 24 ; V, 200, 

 pi. iv. Hicmnrrlunis purpurea, Swainson, liinls, II, 1837, 295. Enithrospizn pur- 

 puren, \\v. List, 1838. — Ai'i>. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 170, pi. cxcvi. Carpndacm pur- 

 jmrtus, (iKAv's CJcncra, 1844 -4!». — PmS". t^ S( hlk(;kl, Mon, ties Loxicns, 14, tab. xv. 

 — BAiito, Birds X. Am. 18.'»8, 412. — Samulls, Birds N. Vav^. 285. f Lor in riolaccri, 

 Li.NN. Syst. Nat. 17«)*5, 30G, 43. (Very uncertain. ) Purple Finch, Cathsby, Pen- 

 nant, Lath. Hcnui-Bird, Baktkam. 



Sr. C'liAH. Second quill longest ; first shorter than third, considerably longer than the 

 fourth. JJody crimson, palest on tiie rump and breast, darkest across the middle of back 

 and wing-coverts, wiu-re the feathers have dusky centres. The red extends below con- 

 tinuously to tlie lower {lart of the breast, and in spots to the tibiii'. The belly and under 

 tail-covert5i white, streaked faintly with brown, except in the very middle. Edges of 

 wings and tail-feathers brownish-red ; Ic-^er coverts like the back. Two reddish bands 

 across the wings (over the en<ls of the middle and greater coverts). Lores dull grayish. 

 Length, 6.2.'> inches; wing, 3.34; tail, 2.50; bill above, .40. Female. Olivaceous-brown 

 above: brighter on the rump. Beneath white; all the feathers everywhere streaked with 

 brown, except on the middle of the belly and under coverts. A superciliary light stripe. 



Hab. North America, from Atlantic to the high Central Plains. 



Habits. The Purple Finch is a common species from (leorgia to the 

 plains of the Saskatchewan, and as far west as the Great Plains, beyond which 

 it seems to be replaced by another race, or closely allied species. It breeds 

 from about latitude 40'' to perhaps 60°, and in most parts between these 



