26 PURPLE FINCH. 



above and a few transverse scutella below, posteriorly with an acutely 

 angular longitudinal plate ; toes sou tell ate above, free, the lateral ones 

 nearly equal ; claws slender, arched, compressed, acute, that of the hind 

 toe not much larger. 



Plumage compact above, blended beneath, wings of moderate length, 

 third and fourth primaries longest, second and first very little shorter. 

 Tail forked. The lateral feathers curved outwards toward the tip. 

 .. Bill deep brown above, paler and tinged with blue beneath. Iris 

 blackish-brown. Feet and claws brown. Head, neck, breast, back, and 

 upper tail-coverts of a rich deep lake, approaching to crimson on the 

 head and neck, and fading into rose-colour on the belly. Fore part of 

 the back streaked with brown. Quills and larger coverts deep brown, 

 margined externally and tipped with red. Tail feathers deep brown, 

 similarly margined. A narrow band of cream-colour across the fore- 

 head margining the base of the upper mandible. 



Length 6 inches, extent of wings 9, beak along the ridge ^^, along 

 the gap j^'g, tarsus f. 



Female. Plate IV. Fig. 3. 



The young bird so closely resembles the adult female, that the same 

 description will answer for both. The general colour of the upper parts 

 is brownish-olive, streaked with dark brown. There is a broadish white 

 line over the eye, and another from the commissure of the gap back- 

 wards. The under parts are greyish white, the sides streaked with brown. 

 The quiUs and tail-feathers are dark brown, margined with olive. 



The Red Larch. 



Laeix amebicajja, Pursh, Fl. Amer. vol. ii. p. 645. Mich. Arbr. Forest, de TAnier. 

 Sept. vol. iii. p. 137. I*!- 4. — Monoecia Polyandria, Linn. Conifers, Juss. 



•'This species of larch, which is distinguished by its short, deciduous, 

 fasciculate leaves, and short ovate cones, occurs in the more northern 

 parts of the United States, and in the mountainous regions of the mid- 

 dle states. It attains a height of sixty feet, and a diameter sometimes of 

 two feet. The wood is highly esteemed on account of its excellent qua- 

 lities. 



