Birds of Lewiston-Auburn 47 



80. (517) PURPLE FINCH 



A fairly common summer resident. Seen some 

 seasons before the bluebird and robin arrive; others it 

 comes late in April. This species remains till November 

 or later and may be found in the winter. During the 

 autumn flocks of these birds, mature and immature, are 

 seen in orchards, as the fruit of the pear tree is a favorite. 

 Immature males and females are sparrow looking birds, 

 but the thick bill is a distinguishing mark. 



March 16 I heard a fine rendering of finch music in a 

 tree near my home. The song, which is confused with 

 that of the Warbling Vireo, is a burst of melody and more 

 musical. The Warbling Vireo is also a much later spring 

 arrival. One May afternoon a party of us listened as 

 a Purple Finch sang a most beautiful love song. Each 

 exclaimed over its exquisiteness. It is one of our finest 

 singers. Chapman says "his song is a sweet, flowing 

 warble, music as natural as the rippling of a mountain 

 brook." 



81. '(515) CANADIAN PINE GROSBEAK 



A winter visitant. Its arrival from the North has 

 been reported the last of October but its appearance is 

 more often in November or later. During April it feels 

 the call of spring and returns. I saw two in the woods 

 April 29, which is unusually late. None were reported in 

 this vicinity during the cold winter of 1918. 



These birds are closely associated with a snow-shoe 

 tramp on Stetson's Brook when a flock of mature and im- 

 mature males and females flew into some evergreen trees 

 uttering for me their sweet whistles and twitterings. 

 Although the day was cold and blustering the tramp home 

 was a happy one, for after long watching and much pur- 

 suit, I had seen a Pine Grosbeak. 



