FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 305 



The nests are of twigs, rootlets, and finer materials, 

 placed at a rather low elevation in some coniferous tree. 

 The three eggs in my collection were laid by a pair of birds 

 which Mr. O. W. Knight, a Maine bird student, kept in 

 captivity. They are deep greenish-blue, sparingly spotted 

 with dark brown. 



PURPLE FINCH 



The Purple Finch nests in the mountainous regions of 

 New York, but the favorite summer home of this little 

 fellow is through northern Wisconsin, east across the north- 

 ern tier of States and well up into Canada. The name in 

 describing the color of this bird is slightly misleading, the 

 plumage being more red than purple. "Females and 

 young males bear a decided resemblance to some spar- 

 rows, but the rounded bill, tufts of feathers over the nos- 

 trils, and the forked tails are distinguishing characteristics." 



It is a clever little songster. Led by a roving disposi- 

 tion, during the winter it wanders over temperate North 

 America, visiting our city parks, orchards, and shade trees, 

 though its fondness for fruit buds and blossoms makes it 

 no favorite of the fruit grower. 



The nests are usually placed in coniferous trees; some- 

 times a fruit tree is selected. Grass, roots, and feathers 

 are used in the outward construction of the nest, lined with 

 long horse hairs. 



In appearance, size, and construction it bears a strong 

 resemblance to the chipping sparrow's nest. The eggs, 

 like the nest, are also suggestive of the chipping sparrow, 

 but are larger. 



