thing, lived together very harmoniously, save only when one would approach too near 

 the favorite station of another, when the latter w^ould begin to bristle up his crest, and 

 give very evident hints that his near presence was not agreeable. The extreme southern 

 end of the ridge-pole of the house had been, for several summers, the "favorite post for 

 the patriarch of the flock, from which at morning and at evening he made the neigh- 

 borhood vocal with his melody. If in his absence any other of these birds ventured to 

 occupy his position, there was always sure to be a disturbance on his return, if it was 

 not instantly vacated. These encounters were frequent, and always very amusing. Dis- 

 cretion usually took the place of valor on the part of the intruder. 



"The song of the Purple Finch resembles that of the Canary, and though less 

 varied and powerful, is softer, sweeter and more touching and pleasing.* The notes of 

 this species may be heard from the last of May until late in September, and in the long 

 summer evenings are often continued until after it is quite dark. Their song has all the 

 beauty and pathos of the Warbling Vireo, and greatly resembles it, but is more powerful 

 and full in tone. It is a very interesting sight to watch one of these little performers 

 in the midst of his song. He appears perfectly absorbed in his work, his form dilates, 

 his crest is erected, his throat expands, and he seems to be utterly unconscious of 

 all around him. But let an intruder of his own race appear within a few feet of 

 the singer, and the song instantly ceases, in a violent fit of indignation he chases 

 him away. 



"The flight of the Purple Finch is said by Mr. Audubon to resemble that of the 

 Green Finch of Europe. They fly in compadl flocks with an undulating motion, alight- 

 ing all at once, and then instantly, as if suddenly alarmed, take again to flight, only 

 to return to the same tree. They then immediately make each his separate way to the 

 ends of the branches, and commence eating the buds. The food they take to their young 

 is juicy berries and the softer portion of the young cones of the fir and spruce. 



"They nest generally in firs, spruces, or cedar trees, though occasionally on the 

 upper branches of a high apple tree. Their nests are usually placed upon a branch, 

 rather than interlaced between its forked twigs. I have known them not more than 

 five feet from the ground, and at other times on the highest point of a lofty fir tree. 

 The nests are, for the most part, somewhat flat and shallow structures, not more than 

 2.50 inches in height, and about 3.50 inches in breadth. The walls of the nest average 

 less than an inch, and the cavity corresponds to its general shape and form. The frame 

 work of the nest is usually made of small denuded vegetable fibers, stems of grasses, 

 stfips of bark, and woody fragments. The upper rim of the nest is often a curious 

 intertwining of dry herbaceous stems, the ends of which projedt above the nest itself in 

 the manner of a low pallisade. The inner nest is made up of minute vegetable fibers 

 closely interwoven. There is usually no other lining than this. At other times these 

 nests are largely made up of small dark colored rootlets of wooded plants, lined with 

 finer materials of the same, occasionally mingled with the down of birds and the fur of 

 small animals. 



"The eggs of the Purple Finch vary greatly in size, and somewhat in shape, gener- 

 ally they are of an oblong oval, pointed considerably at one end. Their length varies 



• The song of a good Harz Mountain Canary-bird has no resemblance to the song of the Purple Pinch. H. N. 



