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U. S, p. E. R. EXP. AND SUKVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENEEAL EEPOET. 



List of specimens. 



CAEPODAOUS OASSINII, Baird. 



Cassin's Fnrple Finch. 



Carpodacus cassinii, B^ird, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sc. Phila. VII, June, 1854, 119. Colorado River. 



Sp. Ch. — Larger than C. purpureiis . Bill .65 of an inch above. Second and third quills longest ; first longer than fourth. 

 Above pale grayish brown, the feathers streaked with darker brown, and with only an occasional gloss of reddish, except on 

 the crown, which is uniform deep crimson, and on the rump. Sides of the head and neck, throat and upper part of breast with 

 rump, pale rose color ; rest of under parts white, very faintly and sparsely streaked with brown. Female without any red, 

 and streaked on the head and under parts with brown. Length, 6.50 ; wing, 3.69 ; tail, 2.60. 



Hab. — Rocky mountains and valley of the Colorado. 



This is the largest of the American purple finches, and is conspicuously different from the 

 others in the size and unusual elongation of the hill. This is very nearly straight above to 

 within one-third or fourth of the end, and then curves gently to the tip ; the cutting edge of 

 the mandible is sinuated in the middle. The proportions of the quills, as given above, are 

 pretty constant, although sometimes the second quill is longest, and sometimes the first as long 

 as the second. The tail is moderately forked ; the feathers broad. 



There is rather more of red on the nape than on the back, where this color is only occasionally 

 visible. The rose of the breast is not abruptly defined, but passes gradually into the white of 

 the belly. 



This species is more like C. purpureus than the other North American purple finches, bi^t is 

 larger and otherwise easily distinguished. The bill is much larger, and longer proportionally. 

 The proportions of the quills are different ; the tail less deeply forked, and the feathers broader. 

 The crimson of the head is brighter ; there is much less red on the back, although the crown and 

 rump patches are not abruptly defined. The streaks on the back are darker and more conspic- 

 uous. The red of the throat and breast is much paler and does not extend so far back ; there 



