PURPLE FINCH. 3^3 



Although the Purple Finch breeds and passes the season in 

 this vicinity, yet as early as the close of September they leave 

 us for the South ; about which time and nearly to the close of 

 October, small, hungry, roving flocks arrive from the more 

 northern States and Canada or Newfoundland. At the same 

 time likewise great numbers visit Pennsylvania, the maritime 

 parts of New York and New Jersey, and many pass the winter 

 in the Middle States, while others proceed as far south as the 

 States of Louisiana, Florida, and Texas, returning north in the 

 latter end of March or early in April, and arriving with us in 

 the month of May to pass the most important period of their 

 existence. Roving flocks are also seen here as early as the 

 24th of March, singing while they stay with great energy and 

 cheerfulness ; these in all probability proceed to Labrador or 

 Newfoundland to breed. The males now have many bitter 

 contests for the choice of their mates, and are very bold and 

 pugnacious in confinement, attempting to destroy every other 

 bird introduced into the same cage. They also bite severely 

 when taken up wounded, but are directly reconciled to the 

 cage, finding their most important wants so amply supplied ; 

 yet in this state they often refuse to sing, and after moulting 

 into the humble plumage of the female, frequently remain so, 

 without ever renewing their crimson dress. They are here 

 exposed in cages for sale at high prices (by the name of 

 Linnets), and sing pretty commonly in confinement. Their 

 notes are very similar to those of the Warbling Vireo, but 

 louder, and more agreeably diversified. From the tops of our 

 lofty and spreading elms or shadowy spruce trees, where they 

 delight to pass the time, their varied and very cheerful melody 

 is often continued for hours almost without interval, and 

 poured forth like a torrent. After a combat with a rival, his 

 towering notes of victory burst out into rapture, and he now 

 seems to triumph with loud and petulant hilarity. The song 

 of this beautiful Finch is indeed much finer than that of the 

 Canary ; the notes are remarkably clear and mellow, and the 

 trilling sweet and various, particularly on their first arrival. At 

 times the warble is scarcely audible, and appears at a distance ; 



