378 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



era boundary of its breeding range to the Gulf coast from Tex. to Fla.; 

 casual in Colo. 



Washington, common W. V., Sept. 12-May 26, largely a migrant. 

 Ossining, rare P. R., common T. V. Cambridge, P. R., common from Apl. 

 to Oct.; irregular, but sometimes abundant, in winter. N. Ohio, common 

 W. V., Sept. 1-May 20. Glen Ellyn, fairly common T. V., Mch. 8-May 15; 

 Aug. 25-Nov. 2. SE. Minn., common T. V., Mch.-Apl., Sept.-Oct., uncom- 

 mon W. V. 



Nest, of twigs, grasses, and rootlets, thickly lined with long hairs, in 

 coniferous trees, 5-30 feet up. Eggs, 4-6, blue, spotted about the larger 

 end with fuscous, *79 x '56. Date, Cambridge, May 25; Holland Patent, 

 N. Y., May 15. 



During the nesting season the Purple Finch frequently takes up 

 its abode in private grounds, even becoming a familiar garden bird, 

 while others of its race find a congenial home in wild mountain forests, 

 far away from the society of man. The rosy plumage of the males 

 makes it attractively noticeable as a garden bird; but a serious offense 

 must be charged against it it has far too ready a taste for the blos- 

 soms of fruit trees, and is, perhaps, the most confirmed bud-eater of 

 all our birds. It has naturally a roving disposition, and, in the autumn 

 especially, seems ever to be impelled by some restless impulse. At this 

 season it may often be seen descending with airy, sweeping flight into 

 some leafless treetop, as if from a far aerial journey, its identity made 

 known by its very characteristic utterance, a short, rather dull-sound- 

 ing note, scarcely metallic the metal pressed the instant the bell is 

 struck. 



Although the Purple Finch often essays to sing in the autumn and 

 earliest spring, its full powers of voice belong alone to the nuptial 

 season. Then it easily takes its place among our noteworthy song 

 birds. Its full song is a sweet-toned, carelessly flowing warble not 

 too brief to miss definite character as a song, and positive enough in 

 modulation and delivery to find ready place in the memory. At times, 

 indeed, its singing is of a character not to be easily forgotten. The 

 song bursts forth as if from some uncontrollable stress of gladness, 

 and is repeated uninterruptedly over and over again, while the ecstatic 

 bird rises high into the air, and, still singing, descends into the trees. 



EUGENE P. BICKNELL. 



Passer domes ticus domes ticus (Linn.}. HOUSE or ENGLISH SPARROW. 

 Ad. (?. Crown gray, bordered from the eye backward and on the nape by 

 chestnut; lesser wing-coverts chestnut, middle coverts tipped with white; 

 back streaked with black and chestnut ; rump ashy ; middle of the throat and 

 breast black; sides of the throat white; belly whitish. Ad. 9. Head and 

 rump grayish brown; back streaked with black and deep pchraceous-buff; 

 underparts dirty whitish, the breast and sides washed with pale grayish 

 brown. L., 6'33; W., 3'01; T., 2'30; B., '48. 



Range. "Nearly the whole of Europe, but replaced in Italy by P. italice, 

 extending eastward to Persia and Central Asia, India, and Ceylon" (Sharpe). 

 Introduced and naturalized in America, Australia, New Zealand, etc. 



Nest, of any available material in any available place. Eggs, 4-7, varying 

 from plain white to almost uniform olive-brown, generally white, finely 

 and evenly marked with olive, 1*86 x "62. Date, D. C., Mch. 1. 



