119 



PURPLE FINCH. 

 FRINGILLA PURPUREA. 

 [Plate VII.— Fig. 4] 



Fringilla purpurea, Gmel. Syst. I, 923. — Bouvreuil violet de la Caroline, Buff. IV, 395. — - 

 Purple Finch, Arct. Zool. II, jYo. 258. — Catesb. I, 41. — Lath. Syn. Ill, 275, 39.— 

 Crimson- headed Finch, Arct. Zool. II, No. 251. — Lath. Syn, 111,271, 29. — Gmel. Syst. 

 I, 864. — Fringilla rosea, Pallas III, 699, 26. — Hemp-bird, Bartram, 291. Fringilla 

 purpurea, Id. 291. — Pe ale's Museum, No. 6504. 



THIS is a winter bird of passage, coming to us in large flocks 

 from the north, in September and October; great numbers remain- 

 ing with us in Pennsylvania during the whole winter, feeding on 

 the seeds of the poplar, button- wood, juniper, cedar; and on those 

 of many rank weeds that flourish in rich bottoms, and along the 

 margin of creeks. When the season is very severe they proceed 

 to the south, as far at least as Georgia, returning north early in 

 April. They now frequent the elm trees, feeding on the slender 

 but sweet covering of the flowers ; and as soon as the cherries put 

 out their blossoms, feed almost exclusively on the stamina of the 

 flowers ; afterwards the apple blossoms are attacked in the same 

 manner; and their depredations on these continue till they disap- 

 pear, which is usually about the tenth or middle of May. I have 

 been told that they sometimes breed in the northern parts of New 

 York;, but have never met with their nests. About the middle 

 of September I found these birds numerous on Long Island, and 

 round Newark in New Jersey. They fly at a considerable height 

 in the air, and their note is a single chink like that of the Rice-bird. 

 They possess great boldness and spirit, and when caught bite vio- 

 lently, and hang by the bill from your hand, striking with great 

 fury;- but they are soon reconciled to confinement, and in a day or 



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