OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 225 



the sombre foliage of the Norway spruce, forms a most attractive 

 object at this season of the year when the tide of bird Hfe 

 is at its lowest ebb. 



Our knowledge of the breeding habits of this species is as 

 yet very imperfect, the description given of the nest and 

 eggs being that of a supposed Grosbeak's nest which was found 

 in Maine by Mr. Boardman, but the birds to which the nest 

 belonged were not secured. 



Mr. Trippe found them in Colorado in summer living up 

 near the timber line, and observed young birds fully feathered 

 and shifting for themselves in June, which gives the impression 

 that they must breed very early. I think it highly probable 

 that they may yet be found breeding in Ontario, for on the 

 occasion already referred to they appeared early in January, and 

 many were seen as late as April, so that they would not 

 have time to travel far before engaging in their domestic 

 duties. 



Genus CARPODACUS Kaup. 



201. CARPODACUS PURPUREUS (Gmel.). 517. 



Purple Finch. 



Male crimson, rosy or purplish-red, most intense on the crown, fading 

 to white on the belly, mixed with dusky streaks on the back ; wings and tail 

 dusky, with reddish edgings, and the wing-coverts tipped with the same ; 

 lores and feathers all round the base of the bill hoary. Female and young 

 with no red ; olivaceous-brown, brighter on the rump, the feathers above all 

 with paler edges, producing a streaked appearance ; below white, thickly 

 spotted and streaked with olive-brown, except on the middle of the belly and 

 under tail-coverts ; obscure whitish superciliary and maxillary lines. Young 

 males show every gradation between these extremes in gradually assuming 

 the male plumage, and are frequently brownish-yellow or bronzy below. 

 Length, 5I-6J ; wing, 3-3J ; tail, 2|-2j. 



Hab. Eastern North America, from the Atlantic coast to the Plains. 

 Breeds from the Middle States northward. 



Nest, usually but not always in an evergreen ; composed of weeds, 

 grass, strips of bark, vegetable fibre, etc., lined with hair. 



Eggs, 4 to 5 ; pale green, scrawled and spotted with dark-brown and 

 lilac, chiefly toward the larger end. 



