PURPLE FINCH. Ill 



deeply forked tail. The females nnd young of frontalis are more finely strenkeil above and below. I cunnot consistently 

 consider tlie so railed " Califomiau" and "Coiiinii" as spei-ics, so give them us s\nomms. Distributed during summer 

 a<To tin- ( 'iiiitiiient imrtli uflutitude 10 . Winters between latitudes 4'2 J and 30 J . Riire in Northern Florida. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurement" of twenty-seven specimens. Length, 5-95; stretch, 8'95; wing, 4'35; tnil, 2'20; bill, '57; tar- 

 su-.'I.'i. Longest spi-i-iinen, 0'35; greatest extent of wing, 10'40; longest wing, 3'47: t8il,2'40; bill, '70; tarsus, -50. Short- 

 e-t .pceiiiicn, "i 50; smallest extent of wing, 9'47; shortest wing, 3' Id; tail, 2'00; bill, '42; tarsus, '45. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



_\< .-Vs, placed iii trees, composed of small twigs and fine roots, lined with horse-hair nnd strips of fibrous bark, usually 

 from cedar trees. Dimensions; external diameter, 4'J>1, internal, 2'75. External depth, 2'50, internal, T50. 



Eyi/$, four or five in number, oval in form, light-blue in color, spitted and dotted, irregularly, with black, lilac, and 

 umber. The black markings occasionally form lines. Dimensions from '85 x '55 to 'SOx-GO. 



HABITS. 



When the stately elm trees of New England are putting forth their blossoms, which 

 always appear when the trees are destitute of leaves, troops of Purple Finches may be seen 

 perched on the high branches, eagerly devouring the bursting buds. Later, when the 

 apple trees are covered with pink and white flowers, these birds visit them in order to feed 

 on the petals. Finches which I have dissected at this time were literally crammed with 

 such food. This practice must be detrimental to the fruit as many stamens are also detach- 

 ed by the Finches when they are removing the petals. As these birds eat but few insects, 

 subsisting the greater portion of the year upon seeds and berries of the cedar, they never 

 recompense the husbandman for the injury which they do him. In spite of this, however, 

 the Red Linnets, as they are commonly called, are great favorites with almost everybody, 

 which is mainly due to the fact that their song is exceedingly fine being a continuous, rip- 

 pling melody, but their musical qualities are frequently a cause of misfortune to them as 

 many are captured and caged. They thrive well in confinement, amply rewarding the care 

 which is bestowed upon them by frequently pouring forth their charming carol. ' Contrary 

 to the rule, the females sing although not as loudly as the males, but the song is nearly as 

 fine. This species is at least three years in acquiring the full dress, but the young breed 

 while in the gray plumage. The nests are usually placed in low cedars and I have known 

 of several pairs to occupy adjacent trees. They are not very solicitous for the safety of 

 their ei^us, merely uttering a few alarm notes if disturbed. When frightened they will 

 dart into the nearest evergreen tree and remain perfectly quiet. One can then pass direct- 

 ly under the birds without causing them to move, and, although there may be several, it 

 is extremely difficult to discern them. Then suddenly one who is evidently the leader, 

 will utter a peculiar, chucking note when instantly they will all spring into the air, rising 

 and falling in their undulating flight until they disappear in the distance. The males have 

 the somewhat similar habit of rising to a considerable height then descending slowly with 

 wings held upwards, at the same time singing loudly. This is practiced only during the 

 bivrdiuo- season and usually in the immediate vicinity of the nests. 



The Purple Finches remain in Massachusetts in small flocks all winter, frequenting 

 some thick grove, but they are much more common at this season in the pine woods of 

 Pennsylvania. They also occur on the plantations of the Carolinas and I have seen them, 

 on one or two occasions, near Jacksonville. They appear to prefer the open country while 



