The California Purple Finch 



before the bush was pronounced clean, whereupon the zealous deputy 

 gardener flitted to another bush. 



Because the Purple Finch is usually so unobtrusive, we are startled at 

 the first outburst of spring song. Nothing more spontaneous could be 

 desired ; and the mellow, musical yodelling of this bird is one of the choicest 

 things allowed us in the West. The song is midway between a trill and a 

 carol, and has a wild quality which makes it very attractive. The notes 

 are so limpid and penetrating that one is sometimes deceived as to the 

 distance of the singer, supposing him to be in a neighboring copse, when, 

 in truth, he occupies a distant fir-top. Cheedooreedooree dooree dooree 

 dooree dooree dooree dreeetoreet may afford an idea of the rolling, rollicking 

 character of the song, but is, of course, absurdly inadequate. 



It is interesting to note that an experienced orchestral musician, 

 Mr. F. N. Bassett, of San Francisco, rates the song of the Purple Finch as 

 supreme in musical quality, only that of the Black-headed Grosbeak 

 being, in this gentleman's opinion, at all comparable to it in respect to 

 purity and rotundity of tone. According to this authority: "The 

 Purple Finch pours his song forth in notes like liquid pearls, unmarred by 

 poor tone quality or metallic accents. It is a finished performance of an 

 unassuming, finished artist. It is not so melodious as the songs of many 

 of our inferior singers, but the tone quality outclasses theirs. "i 



A master singer among the Purple Finches once entertained us from 

 the top of a fir tree a hundred feet high. He was in the dull plumage ; that 

 is, without red ; and although he sang briskly, at intervals, we were not 

 prepared for any unusual exhibition of vocal powers on his part. It was a 

 long time, therefore, before we put the cry of a distant Steller Jay up to 

 him. Our suspicions once aroused, however, we caught not only the 

 Steller Jay cry, unmistakably, but also half a dozen others in swift and 

 dainty succession, after the usual Purple Finch prelude. I clearly recog- 

 nized notes of the Flicker, Steller Jay, Canary, Crossbill, and Bewick 

 Wren. These imitative efforts varied in correctness of execution, and 

 came to us with the distance of the original singer plus that of the Finch, 

 so that the result was not a little confusing, though very delightful when 

 explained. 



During courtship this Finch will sometimes execute an aerial song- 

 dance, consisting of sundry jerks and crazy antics, interspersed with a 

 medley of ecstatic notes; at the conclusion of which he will make a sug- 

 gestive dive at his fiancee, who meanwhile has been poking fun at him. 

 Courtship, in fact, is a strenuous matter, and though the female is docile, 

 not to say amorous, after she is won, she knows how to exact the last 

 farthing of tribute from the wooer. Once I saw a suitor who had quite 



1 "The Gull," Vol. III., no. 6, June, 1921, p. 2. 

 2IO 



