500 PUJIPLE FINCH. 



and papillate at the base, as broad as high, flattened toward the end, 

 concave above, the tip thin, slit, and lacerated. There are slender, 

 submaxillary, salivary glands. The oesophagus is 1 inch 9 twelfths 

 long, its greatest width 2^ twelfths ; the proventriculus 3 twelfths 

 in breadth ; its lateral muscles distinct and of moderate size ; the epi- 

 thelium longitudinally rugous. The intestine is 8 inches long, from 

 2 twelfths to 1| twelfth wide ; cceca 4 twelfths long, f twelfth broad, 

 7J twelfths distinct from the extremity. The trachea is 1 inch 2^ twelfths 

 long, I twelfth broad ; its rings 55 ; the bronchial half rings 12. The 

 muscles as usual in this family. 



PURPLE FINCH. 



Fringilla purpurea, Gmel. 



PLATE IV. Vol. I. p. 24. 



This species was seen by Dr Richardson on the banks of the Saskat- 

 chewan River only, where it feeds on willow-buds. It arrives there in 

 May, and resides during the summer. The eggs have been procured 

 in the State of Massachusetts by my friend Dr T. M. Brewer. They 

 measure seven-eighths and a quarter in length, foiu'-eighths and a half 

 in breadth, and are thus of an elongated form, rather pointed. Their 

 ground-colour is a bright emerald-green, sparingly marked with dots and 

 a few streaks of black, accumulated near the apex, and some large marks 

 of dull purple here and there over the whole surface. The following 

 note is from the same gentleman : — " The passage of the Purple Finch 

 through this State on its way north, is so rapid, and the number of those 

 that stop to breed here so small, that I can fiu'nish nothing respecting 

 its habits, except that there is good reason to believe the accusa- 

 tion which has been brought against it, of injuring the blossoms of fruit 

 trees. Last year, the trees were in full bloom at the time this bird was 

 migrating, and I saw them plainly clinging to the branches, and at work 

 upon the blossoms ; so that under some trees the ground was literally 

 strewed with the result of their destructiveness, although they did not 

 appear to feed on the blossoms. I have had the good fortune to meet 

 with its nest and eggs this season. Mr Cabot found another, and is 

 probably the first naturalist who has done so. The nest which I found 



