179 



seen at most of the stations. They left Elver Falls, Wis., March 15, 

 and Eed Wing, Minn., March 21. At Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, 

 they were seen until April 10. 



517. Carpodacus purpureus (Gmel.). [168.] Purple Finch, 



The Purple Finch breeds in Manitoba and the Upper Mississippi Val- 

 ley, and is a regular winter resident in the southern portion. The bulk 

 pass the winter south of latitude 40°. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., in the win- 

 ter of 1883-'84, they did not arrive until the real cold weather came ; the 

 first flock was seen January 10, and they were still present March 18. 

 At Gainesville, Tex., an adult male was seen March 20. 



The reports show that the species does not move northward with much 

 precision, but arrives at favorite places long before it is seen at neigh- 

 boring stations. For this reason no exact dates of movement can be 

 given, and it can only be said that the species began to move out of 

 winter quarters March 20 to 25, and that during the last week of March 

 and the first week of April it passed up to latitude 45° ; but during 

 March a few individuals were found close to the Mississippi as high as 

 latitude 44° 30'. On April 21 it appeared at Portage La Prairie, Man- 

 itoba. It breeds regularly from northern Minnesota and Dakota north- 

 ward, but has also been found breeding in northern Illinois. Mr. Kline 

 has taken one set of eggs at Polo, 111. 



To show how the composition of the flocks changes from time to time 

 in the same place, we can do no better than reproduce Mr. Widmann's 

 record from Saint Louis : 



During the winter of 1863-64 flocks were found at their old stand. There were 

 not so many as in the winter of 1882-63, and crimson and plain "birds were almost 

 equally numerous. In cold weather they keep mostly on the ground, feeding on 

 seeds of ash; in warm weather they ascend to the tree tops to feed on buds. Feb- 

 ruary 23 there was a change in the flocks; they became larger, but there was a 

 decrease in the number of crimson birds (that is, the old males), 75 per cent, being 

 brown birds, the balance light crimson. March 17, flocks excited, mostly of brown 

 birds, but singing. March 27, the bulk departed. April 19. the species still present 

 in small flocks, mostly brown, but singing much. April 28, last regular migrants. 

 May 5, an accidental party of eight or ten, all brown ; May 7, a single brown bird seen. 



During the winter of 1884-'85 a few Purple Finches were seen at 

 Saint Louis, Mo., and at Shawneetown, 111. At Des Moines, Iowa, a 

 large flock was noted February 25, but no more were observed until 

 regular migration began in March. The first migrants appeared at 

 Saint Louis, March 3; Des Moines, March 14; Lanesboro, Minn., March 

 22; Hastings, Minn., March 31; Kockford, 111., April 1; Green Bay, 

 Wis., April 2; and Shell River, Manitoba, April 30. The whole record 

 for 1885 at Saint Louis is: 



February 27, three brown individuals seen, winter visitants; March 3, first nii- 

 grants, five, crimson ; March 11, slight increase, scattered; March 31, first large flock, 

 many crimson, and in full song; April 6 to April 16, bulk present; April 27, last. 



In the fall of 1885 the first came to Green Bay, Wis., September 15 ; 

 Lanesboro, Minn,, October 17; and Mount Oarmel, Mo., October 7. 



