MR. GAMBEL ON THE BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA. 53 



As the plumage of the female is not well known, I give the following description 

 of one killed off the nest. 



Above greyish brown mixed with yellow olive, particularly on the head ; rump 

 light grey ; beneath white, mixed with yellow on the throat, breast, and sides ; vent 

 and under tail coverts pure white ; wings and tail dark brown, the coverts and some 

 of the tertiaries tipped and edged externally with white; tail emarginate, pale 

 beneath, most of the feathers with large whitish spots internally towards their tips. 

 Bill ochre yellow, upper mandible dusky at tip ; feet and legs light brown; length 4^ 

 inches, wings 2| inches. 



ERYTHROSPIZA, Bonap. 



98. E. PURPUREA, (Gmel.) Bonap. Purple Finch. 



I found this species common around Monterey in the winter season. 



99. E. FRONTALIS, (Say.) Bonap. Crimson-fronted Finch. 



This handsome songster we first observed in New Mexico, particularly about 

 Santa Fe, where it is an abundant and familiar resident; keeping about the corrals 

 and gardens, and building its nest under the portals and sheds of the houses. In 

 July they had young ready to fly, which must have been of a second brood, or else 

 they begin to lay much later than in California. Under a long shed or portal, in the 

 Plaza or Square of Santa Fe, they had a great many nests, and the old ones would 

 sometimes fly down about our feet, while sitting at the doors, to pick up crumbs, &c. 

 for the young. 



In California, it is also an extremely abundant and familiar resident, and called by 

 the inhabitants Buriones. During winter they assemble in flocks, frequenting the 

 bushy plains and hill sides, hedges, vineyards, and gardens, living on the various 

 kinds of seeds which are so abundant, and also sometimes doing considerable damao-e 

 among the grapes. Early in March they commence pairing, and soon are busy 

 building their nests; placing entire confidence in man (which is but too often 

 misplaced,) they persist in building about the houses; on the projecting planks 

 under the portals, under the ea.ves, in sheds, boxes, or any nook they can find. 

 I found a nest once in a small box of seeds, which had been stuck up over a door. 

 They will also build on the horizontal branch of a tree in the garden, and a great 

 many nests are made in the willow hedges of the vineyards ; but they prefer by far 

 the rafters under the sheds and houses, repaying the inmates for the privilege, with 

 their most melodious song, which is continued during summer, from the roof 

 near the nest. The nest is made of small sticks, or stems of weeds, willow catkins, 

 and down of the willow, and lined with horse hair. They usually lay five eggs, 

 sometimes of a plain bluish-white colour only, but generally have a few scattering 

 streaks and specks of dark brown on the larger end. Some nests are made principally 



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