brown rootlets. These are so curly and curved, and interlaced and twisted together at the rim, that the 

 inner nest suggests a piece of silver filigree work. The diameter of the cavity is about two inches; the 

 depth, one inch. Another nest is very similar in size and shape, but has in its foundation a few weed- 

 stems, and in the interior nest or lining a few horse-hairs. Upon the whole, these nests resemble 

 closely nests of the Sparrows which build upon the ground, being much flatter than is usual with nests 

 built in trees. 



EGGS: 



The complement of eggs is four, five, or six, seldom the last number. The ground-color is beautiful 

 greenish-blue when first blown, but as with all eggs of this color, they soon fade to dull, light blue. 

 The markings consist of blotches, spots, and speckles, and occasionally lines and scrawls of very dark 

 brown, almost black. The deep shell-marks appear gray or lilac, according to their depth. As a rule, the 

 eggs are sparingly spotted and speckled, chiefly about the base. Occasionally an egg is spotted from 

 point to base rather plentifully, with here and there a blotch or scrawl and a few speckles, and also 

 occasionally an egg nearly unmarked is seen. Three sets show variations in long-diameter, from .78 to 

 84; and in short-diameter, from .56 to .63. A common size is about .59 x .79. "North American Birds" 

 gives their length from .81 to .92 of an inch, and their breadth from .60 to .70 of an inch. Davie gives 

 their average at .65 x .85 of an inch, and Capen in "Oology of New England," says: "They vary in 

 dimensions from .72 to .80 in length by .53 to .62 of an inch in breadth." 



DIFFERENTIAL POINTS: 



The nest and eggs of the Purple Finch resemble the nest and eggs of the Chipping Sparrow in 

 many respects, but there is so much difference in size that they can be easily distinguished, the one 

 from the other. There are no other nests and eggs with which this species can be confounded, by even a 

 casual observer, if attention is paid to measurements. 



REMARKS : 



Plate LXVIII, Fig. 8, illustrates three eggs of the Purple Finch, of the common sizes, shapes, and 

 markings. They are colored from cabinet specimens. There is a number of nests which the limits of 

 this work will not permit of illustrating. We regret this in every instance, but especially when a nest 

 as beautiful as the one under consideration must be omitted. This work was promised to be completed 

 in twenty-three parts, containing sixty-nine plates; that number has now been reached, and rather than 

 continue it through another year or two, it seems best to leave out the nests of many species, and group a 

 number of eggs upon one plate; by so doing, the eggs of all known summer residents can be figured, 

 but many nests will be left, possibly for illustration in the future as an appendix, at which time the 

 birds can also be added. 



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