BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 227 



GENUS CARPODACUS KAUP 

 Carpodacus purpureus (GMEL.). 



Purple Finch ; Crimson Finch. 



DESCRIPTION {Plate SO; Figs. 1 and 2). 



Adult male. Crimson ; brightest on head ; belly and lower tail-coverts whitish ; 

 wings and tail dusky ; feathers on middle of back have dark centers. Female and 

 young olivaceous-brown, paler below, and everywhere streaked, but have no red ; 

 immature males are found in various conditions of plumage. 



Habitat. Eastern North America, from the Atlantic coast to the plains. Breeds 

 from the Middle States north ward. 



The Crimson Finch, so called from the crimson-colored dress of the 

 adult male, is about as large as the common English Sparrow. This 

 species breeds occasionally and sparingly in Pennsylvania, particularly 

 in the northern* parts of the state Erie, Crawford and a few other 

 counties. I have found these birds to be much more numerous in the 

 spring and autumn than in winter. They are found chiefly in forests, 

 though it is not unusual to see them about houses, which they some- 

 times visit in company with other species of sparrows. These birds are 

 mostly observed in flocks; in whiter, however, it is not uncommon to 

 find them singly or in pairs, especially in the southern parts of the 

 commonwealth. In the spring I have noticed that their brown and cone- 

 shaped bills are usually covered with particles of buds or other succulent 

 vegetable substances, on which they mainly subsist at this season ; the 

 feathers of the forehead and throat are also more or less discolored by 

 the juices of their plant food. The food of the Crimson Finch is made 

 up chiefly of vegetable materials, particularly the buds and blossoms of 

 different forest, fruit and shade trees. Various kinds of small seeds, 

 as well as berries and some few insects are also eaten. I have examined 

 the stomach contents of twenty -one Purple Finches captured in Chester 

 county, Pa., in the latter part of March, during April and from May 1st 

 to 15th. Sixteen of these birds had fed exclusively on buds and 

 blossoms; three, small seeds; two, beetles and flies in addition to 

 vegetable matter. In this locality the buds of the beech and maple 

 trees constitute a very large proportion of their diet. Wilson writing of 

 this species says : " This is a winter bird of passage, coming to us in 

 large flocks from the north in September and October; great numbers 

 remaining with us in Pennsylvania during the whole winter, feeding 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 margins 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 fre- 



* According to the observations of my friend Prof. August Kock, this species is a regular breeder in the 

 city of WlUlamsport (Lycoming county). Their bulky nests, composed externally of twigs or small 

 sticks, and lined internally with miscellaneous and soft materials, have always been found, by Prof. 

 Kock. in a Norway or other pine tree. The gentleman named above says he has never known them to 

 breed in woods in his locality, but always in trees along the streets or in yards. 



