FRINGILLA PURPURE& 



PURPLE FINCH. 

 [Plate XLII. Fig. 3, male in winter plumage. ] 



THIS bird is represented as he appears previous to receiving 

 his crimson plumage, and also when moulting. By recurring to 

 pi. 7, fig. 4, which exhibits him in his full dress, the great 

 difference of colour will be observed to which this species is 

 annually subject. 



It is matter of doubt with me whether this species ought not 

 to be classed with Loxia; the great thickness of the bill, and 

 similarity that prevails between this and the Pine Grosbeak, 

 almost induced me to adopt it into that class. But respect for 

 other authorities has prevented me from making this alteration. 



When these birds are taken in their crimson dress, and kept 

 in a cage till they moult their feathers, they uniformly change 

 to their present appearance, and sometimes never after receive 

 their red colour. They are also subject, if well fed, to become 

 so fat as literally to die of corpulency, of which I have seen 

 several instances; being at these times subject to something re- 

 sembling apoplexy, from which they sometimes recover in a 

 few minutes, but oftener expire in the same space of time. 



The female is entirely without the red, and differs from the 

 present only in having less yellow about her. 



These birds regularly arrive from the north, where they 

 breed, in September; and visit us from the south again early in 

 April, feeding on the cherry blossoms as soon as they appear. 



The individual figured in the plate measured six inches and 

 a quarter in length, and ten inches in extent; the bill was horn 

 coloured; upper parts of the plumage brown olive strongly 



