SPECIES 2. FRINGILLA PURPUREA. 



PURPLE FINCH. 

 [Plate VII. Fig. 4, adult male.] 



Fringilla purpurea, GMEL. Syst. i, 923. Bouvreuil violet de la 

 Caroline, BUFF, iv, 395. Purple Finch, Jirct. Zool. n, JVo. 

 258. CATESB. i, 41. LATH. Syn. m,275, 39. Crimson-head- 

 ed Finch, Jirct. Zool. n, 7V"o. 257. LATHAM, Syn. in, 275, 39. 

 Hemp-bird, BARTRAM, 291. Fringilla purpurea, Id. 291. 

 PEALE'S Museum, 7Vb. 6504. 



THIS is a winter bird of passage, coming to us in large flocks 

 from the north, in September and October, great numbers re- 

 maining with us in Pennsylvania during the whole winter, feed- 

 ing 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 margin of creeks. When the 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, feed almost exclusively on 

 the stamina of the flowers; afterwards the apple blossoms are at- 

 tacked in the same manner; and their depredations on these con- 

 tinue till they disappear, which is usually about the tenth or mid- 

 dle of May. I have been told that they sometimes breed in the 

 northern parts of New York, but have never met with their 

 nests. About the middle of September I found these birds nu- 

 merous on Long Island, and round Newark, in New Jersey. They 

 fly at a considerable height in the air, and their note is a single 

 chink like that of the Rice-bird. They possess great boldness 

 and spirit, and when caught bite violently, and hang by the 

 bill from your hand, striking with great fury; but they are soon 



