87 



PURPLE FINCH. 

 FBINGILLA PURPUREA. 

 [Plate XLII.— Fig. 3.] 



THIS bird is represented as he appears previous to receiving 

 his crimson plumage, and also when moulting. By recurring to 

 the figure in vol. I, pi. 7, fig. 4, of this woi-k, which exhibits him 

 in his full dress, the great difference of color will be observed to 

 which this species is annually subject. 



It is matter of doubt with me whether this species ought not 

 to be classed with the Loxia; the great thickness of the bill, and 

 similarity that prevails between this and the Pine Grosbeak almost 

 induced me to adopt it into that class. But respect for other autho- 

 rities has prevented me from making this alteration. 



When these birds are taken in their crimson dress, and kept 

 in a cage till they moult their feathers, they uniformly change to 

 their present appearance and sometimes never after receive their 

 red color. They are also subject, if well fed, to become so fat as 

 literally to die of corpulency, of which I have seen several in- 

 stances ; being at these times subject to something resembling apo- 

 plexy, from which they sometimes recover in a few minutes, but 

 oftener expire in the same space of time. 



The female is entirely without the red, and differs from the 

 present only in having less yellow about her. 



These birds regularly arrive from the north, where they breed, 

 in September; and visit us from the south again early in April, 

 feeding on the cherry blossoms as soon as they appear. Of the par- 

 ticulars relative to this species the reader is referred to the account 

 in vol. I, already mentioned. 



