SONG BIRDS OF ORCHARD AND WOODLAND. 221 
clear and pure, to which no mere words can do justice. 
When, filled with ecstasy, he mounts in air and hangs with 
fluttering wings above the tree where sits the one who holds 
his affections, his efforts far transcend his ordinary tones, 
and a continuous melody flows forth, until, exhausted with 
his vocal effort, he sinks to the level of his spouse in the 
tree top. This is a musical species, 
for some females sing, though not 
so well as the males. 
This Finch appears at first sight 
to be destructive, for it devours buds 
and the blossoms of apple, cherry, 
peach, and plum trees, feeding on 
the stamens and pistils. Often I 
have seen a party of these birds 
thus destroying the blossoms of 
apple trees, and scattering the 
snowy petals about in a shower. 
They feed also upon the blossoms 
of the red maple, the seeds of such 
trees as the white ash, and the ber- 
ries of the red cedar, mountain ash, 
and other trees. But, as with the 
Grosbeak, the pruning or cutting of Fig. 81.—Purple Finch, male, 
buds, blossoms, and seeds of trees —*P0u* One-half natural size. 
is not ordinarily excessive. On the other hand, this bird 
eats many of the seeds of the most destructive weeds, rag- 
weed being a favorite. The Purple Finch also destroys 
many orchard and woodland caterpillars. It is particularly 
destructive to plant lice and cankerworms. Its quest of 
weed seeds is sometimes rewarded by some insects which it 
finds on the ground, among them ground beetles and perhaps 
a few cutworms. 
If a bird of this species is confined in a trap cage in spring, 
and exposed in a conspicuous place, most of the Purple 
Finches in the neighborhood may be trapped. The greater 
part of the “Linnets” in many localities have been taken in 
this way, despite the law and its officers, who are on the look- 
