PURPLE FINCH— INDIGO BUNTING 219 



somewhat more brightly coloured. See Plate 16, 

 Fig. 92. 



The Pine-Grosbeak has a variety of pleasing notes, 

 and is a popular cage-bird in many countries. 



Closely allied to the preceding species is the Cross- 

 bill. This bird derives its name from the fact that its 

 mandibles cross each other at their tips, a peculiarity 

 which looks like a deformity, but which enables the 

 bird to wrench apart pine-cones and extract from 

 them the seeds which form the bulk of their food. 



The Common Red Crossbill is found in both this 

 country and Europe, breeding in the northern parts 

 of the continents and wintering southward. It 

 migrates in large flocks. Our American species is 

 slightly smaller than the European, and is more 

 brightly coloured. Before the beautiful red plumage, 

 which distinguishes the male, is assumed, a livery of 

 orange-yellow is worn. The general colour of the 

 female is greenish-yellow, with brown wings and tail. 

 See Plate 15, Fig. 79. 



The Purple Finch is a common bird of eastern 

 North America whose name is quite misleading, for 

 the colour over its entire body is dull rose-red, darken- 

 ing on wings and tail. The latter is shghtly forked. 

 The female diflPers markedly in appearance, being 

 greyish-brown above, streaked with black, and white 

 below, streaked or spotted with dark colour. The 

 male does not assume adult plumage for two years, 

 until that time resembling the female in colouring. 

 Both sexes have small tufts of bristly feathers over 

 the nostrils. The Purple Finch is one of our most 



