PURPLE FINCH. 
103 
also of the same olive tint. Mr. Edwards has also erred in saying that 
the young male bird has the spot of black on the forehead ; this it does 
not receive until the succeeding spring. The figure in Edwards is con- 
siderably too large ; and that by Catesby has the wings and tail much 
longer than in nature, and the body too slender ; very different from 
the true form of the living bird. Mr. Pennant also tells us, that the 
legs of this species are black ; they are, however, of a bright cinnamon 
color ; but the worthy naturalist, no doubt, described them as he found 
them in the dried and stuffed skin, shrivelled up and blackened with 
decay ; and thus too much of our natural history has been delineated. 
Species II. FRINGILLA PURPUREA. 
PURPLE FINCH. 
[Plate VII. Fig. 4, adult male.] 
Fringilla purpurea, Gmel. Syst. i, 023. — Bouvreuil violet de la Caroline, Buff. it. 
395.— Purple Finch, Arct. Zool. n., No. 258.— Catesb. i., 41.— Lath. Syn. m., 299, 
39. — Crimson-headed Finch. Arct. Zool. n., No. 257. — Latu. Syn. m., 275, 39. — 
Hemp-bird, Bartram, 291. Fringilla purpurea, Id. 291. 
This is a winter bird of passage, coming to us in large flocks from 
the north, in September and October, great numbers remaining with us 
in Pennsylvania during the whole winter, feeding on the seeds of the pop- 
lar, 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 Geor- 
gia, 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 
disappear, 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 violently, and hang by the 
bill from your hand, striking with great fury ; but they are soon recon- 
ciled to confinement, and in a day or two are quite at home. I have 
kept a pair of these birds upwards of nine months, to observe their 
manners. One was caught in a trap, the other was winged with the 
