136 THE PURPLE FINCH. 



This species, composed of some half-dozen varieties, 

 covers North America. Our eastern variety (Melospiza 

 melodia), wintering from Southern New England and the 

 Middle States southward, and extending north to the lati- 

 tude of Nova Scotia, is some six inches or more in length, 

 and has the marking and color common to all our Spar- 

 rows. It is distinguishable to me, however, by its general 

 reddish tinge of brown, especially by its long crown tail, 

 by the heavy dark spots on its dull white breast, and more 

 especially by the heavy dark streaks from the base of its 

 bill down its cheeks and neck. 



Belonging to the same genus with the Song and Swamp 

 Sparrows, is Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnO). Some 

 5.50 long, it has the colors and markings of the Sparrows in 

 general above ; throat and belly white, with a broad, brownish- 

 yellow band across the breast, the throat, breast and sides 

 being specked and spotted with brown and black. In habit, 

 nidification, etc., this bird is very similar to the Song Sparrow. 

 It is found in the migrations throughout North America, being 

 rare to the eastward, but abundant in the west and north- 

 west. Audubon found it breeding in Labrador, and its 

 nests are found in great abundance about Great Slave Lake 

 and Yukon River. Mr. Bruce saw it in a thicket by Lake 

 Ontario, on the 17th of May (1880), in company with the 

 White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows. 



THE PURPLE FINCH. 



As I return to the village about noon I am greeted by the 

 Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus), which has already 

 been here in full song for a week. The size and general 

 shape of one of the larger Sparrows, its head is a dark 

 crimson; rump, breast and under parts of the same, but 

 much lighter, the latter becoming white underneath; 



