THE PURPLE FINCH. 39 



task, but before long some restless young gallant will burst out with uncon- 

 trollable song — a carol delicate and sweet and free, and the whole flock will 

 forget its sordid pursuits and fall to love-making. This has become the all- 

 absorbing pastime by the time the birds quit us for the North, and we may 

 suppose that all troths are plighted under our pleasant roof-tree. 



Dr. T. M. Brewer has this to say more fully of the Finch's song : "The 

 song of the Purple Finch resembles that of the Canary, and though less varied 

 and powerful, is softer, sweeter and more touching and pleasing. The notes of 

 this species may be heard from the last of May until late in December (in New 

 England) and in the long summer evenings are often continued until after it is 

 quite dark. Their song has all the beauty and pathos of the warbling Vireo and 

 greatly resembles it, but is more powerful and full in tone. It is a very inter- 

 esting sight to watch one of these little performers in the midst of his song. He 

 appears perfectly absorbed in his work, his form dilates, his crest is erect, his 

 throat expands and he seems to be utterly unconscious of all around him. But 

 let an intruder of his own race appear within a few feet of the singer and the 

 song instantly ceases, and in a violent fit of indignation he chases him away." 



Concerning the reputed nesting of this species in the northeastern counties 

 of the state I have no exact information. The birds prefer evergreen trees for 

 nesting sites, but will put up with orchard trees on occasion. The nests are 

 flatter than is usual with tree nesting sparrows,- and are usually well con- 

 cealed by the foliage. Dr. Howard Jones, who was familiar with the Purple 

 Finch in New York State, writes : "A nest before me, a fair representative of 

 the species, is composed of a foundation and superstructure of brown roots, the 

 coarsest being in the foundation ; many of these are one-sixteenth of an inch in 

 diameter by six or eight inches in length. They are arranged circularly and 

 form a ragged looking 'exterior, about five inches in diameter outside of the 

 loosest rootlets. Within the superstructure is a beautifully wrought lining, with 

 walls about three-eights of an inch thick, of the very finest light 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." 



