244 LIFE-HISTORIES OF i BIRDS 



Carpodacus purpureus, Gray. 



The Purple Finch is very abunda-Rt in Eastern 

 Pennsylvania .during the autumnal and ■vjrinter 

 months. It has been observed by us from early 

 O-ctober until the middle of April, but paver during 

 the breeding-season, from whichj fact, we .?ire.,ied 

 to infer that it migrates. It may possibly bjceed 

 among the Wissahickon hills, but if so, at , that 

 time it becomes so shy and retired, doubtless,- 

 building in some sequestered nook seldom visited 

 by hu-pian footsteps. Many and diligent eji;plora- 

 tioashave utterly failed to reveal, to us the slightest 

 evidence of its presence during this period. 



On its return, early in the auturnn, it is eminently 

 gregarious,; -but in January and February . when 

 there is a paucity of food-stuffs, as was the case, in- 

 the- winter of 1875, the flocks dissolve into pairs 

 which forage together.- These pairs in all cases 

 where an opportunity is afforded for determina- 

 tion, are invariably composed of the sexes. 

 When mild weather returns and there is a 

 growing increase in articles of diet^ these re-unite 

 into flocks of six or more. In this manner they 

 retire. 



This Finch is exceedingly tame, coming about 

 our doors and mingling with the Snow Birds and 

 Sparrows for a share of the scraps that are dis- 

 carded by . man ; and is even found among our 

 conimon fowls receiving its part of the cracked 

 corn. 



