38 HOUSE FINCH. 



sides, however, a velvety green gladdens our eyes. Several species of flowers are bloom- 

 ing already. Near San Miguel I have found on January 15 quite a number of different 

 flowers. At this time the House Finches usually make their appearance in large flocks. 

 One morning, early in February, a loud song arrested my attention, and I noticed with 

 great pleasure numerous House Finches around the water pots and nesting boxes which 

 I had put up on trees for the convenience of these birds. After their arrival the males 

 are fighting with great vehemence for the females, and later there is much quarrehng 

 going on for the best nesting sites. The foundation of the nest consists of plant-stems, 

 especially of the wooly stems of Micropus califomica, and the interior is lined with 

 softer material. I am in the habit of supplying these birds and the Orioles with nesting 

 material, and I have invariably found that the birds prefer to go quite a distance to 

 get it instead of taking that which is nearest the nest. They always select white or 

 neutral colored strings and pieces of cloth. Colored material they never employ. Blue, 

 black, red, and yellow strings were never used. Bullock's Orioles also showed a great 

 dislike for colored material.— The House Finch has a great predilection for nesting 

 boxes, but where these are not supplied, every nook and comer near or in a house is 

 occupied by a pair. Beneath the roof, even over the door in a house, I have seen the 

 nest. The birds are exceedingly tame, especially where they are protected. Last spring 

 (1890) two and even three pairs came regularly through the window into my room. 

 On the trees around our house numerous nesting boxes decorated with lace lichen 

 {Razaalina retiformis) and moss are to be found. They were occupied as soon as they 

 were fastened to the trees. These very natural looking moss-houses are especially 

 adapted for these birds. . . . Two years ago an old overcoat was left hanging on a tree 

 during night. When I came to the spot the next morning I was very much surprised 

 in finding in one pocket a nest of these birds just commenced. I left the coat in the 

 same position and arranged the other pocket so that it also could be occupied. During 

 the next hour an other pair, had settled in it. Several broods of young birds were raised 

 successfiiUy in each oocket. I have also seen the birds using old Oriole nests for nesting 

 purposes." 



The House Finch has all the requisites for a vamable cage bird. An excellent 

 smger, of fine plumage, very tame, easy to keep, it is especially adapted for the cage 

 and aviary. Sunflower seed, millet, Canary seed, rice, and now and then a little fi-uit 

 and a few meal-worms are sufficient to keep the bird in good health. After a short time 

 the beautiful red color gives place to a rather dingy yellowish-brown. The CaUfomia 

 Linnet is rarely found in the bird-stores of the East and in Europe. 



This bird is merely a variety of the Crimson-fronted House Finch, Carpodacus 

 mexicanas Ridgw., of eastern and southern Mexico. 



NAMES: House Finch, California House Finch, California Linnet, Red Linnet, Burion. — Hausfink (German). 



SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Carpodacus rbodocolpus Cabanis (1851). Carpodacus froBtalis rbodocolpus Ridgw. 

 (1873). CARPODACUS MEXICANUS FRONTALIS Ridgw. (1887). 



DESCRIPTION: "Adult male: Above, brownish-gray; below, whitish, more or less extensively streaked 

 with dark grayish-brown ; wings and tail, dusky grayish-brown, the feathers edged with a paler 

 shade of the same. The red spreading at least over breast (sometimes over whole lower parts, except 



