28 



BIRDS AND FLOWERS. 



fied him as the Wilson's warbler, and I found an ex- 

 cellent picture of him in Miss Merriam's " Birds of 

 Village and Field. " 



Other people beside myself have commented on the 

 scarcity of purple finches. The only one this year 

 that I have seen near our house, perched on our front 

 gate-post on May 20. He appeared to be in an ad- 

 vanced state of frenzy or intoxication, for every rosy 

 feather on his head stood erect and he was dancing 

 with both wings, both legs and his tail. I could 

 not understand such excitement, for the purple finch 

 has always appeared to me a very meek and gentle 

 bird. I was delighted, however, on consulting Miss 

 Merriam's book, to find that these antics are very com- 

 mon in the spring and to see a perfect picture by 

 Seton-Thompson, representing the bird in this very 

 attitude. 



That day, May 20, I marked with red in my calen- 

 dar, for, beside the rosy finch (it is a perversion to 

 call him purple), I saw later, at the Reservoir, the 

 scarlet tanager, the rose-breasted grosbeak (both for 

 the first time this year), beside the redstart and other 

 lesser brilliants. I also saw a woodchuck. The tana- 

 ger is the most fiery thing that flies. I am glad to 

 note that he is becoming rather abundant these last 



