110 
The Purple Finch 
Family 
Colors 
Then come three birds who would seem original and striking in any 
family — the Indigo Bunting, the southern Blue Grosbeak and the beauti- 
ful Painted Bunting, or Nonpareil, gay in blue, gold, red, and green 
plumes. 
Red and blue — then yellow must follow as a natural sequence, to 
complete the primary colors. It is a fact in the floral kingdom that the 
three primary colors never exist naturally in one family, but must be 
produced by artificial hybridization ; thus, there are red and yellow roses, 
but no blue ; red and blue verbenas, but no yellow, and so on. 
In the Sparrow family, however, we have the three primary colors 
in all their purity — the Goldfinch, clad in pure gold, 
and the Dickcissel, of the yellow breast, together with 
the yellow marks on wings of the Pine Siskin, supply- 
ing the third color. The Towhee Bunting stands alone, a blending of 
brilliant black above, white below, with chestnut sides and red eyes. 
The Chippy, Song and Field Sparrows are typical of the color-protective 
family type. The white outer tail-quills are an index to the Vesper Spar- 
row ; the same white quills and a white vest distinguish the Slate-colored 
Junco. The White-throated Sparrow has his name plainly printed under 
his “beak, and, the White-crowned Sparrow writes his in his white head- 
stripe, while the rusty-brown Fox Sparrow is known both by size and 
color. 
The Purple Finch, which, as I have said, is not purple, but when in full 
plumage washed with a rich raspberry-red, deepest on breast, crown 
and rump, is one of the notable members of the family. Its bill is heavy 
and round, approaching in size those of the Grosbeaks, while its body 
ranks with that of the Song and House Sparrows. It has a way of 
bristling the feathers of its crown that sometimes gives it the aggressive 
mien of the Cardinal ; while its clinking call-note, and way of flying in 
scattered flocks, and the fact that it is with us in winter, cause it to be 
mistaken sometimes for one of the Crossbills. 
One would think that, with its rich coloring, and the fact that it is 
a winter resident in many parts of its range, this Finch would be a 
well-known bird ; yet many people who have a fair knowledge of our com- 
mon birds do not seem: to know it. Perhaps this is because the females 
and, immature birds, wearing gray and brown stripes, 
Too Little look SQ ve muc h qp e their Sparrow kin that the rosy- 
Known r . . . . J 
vested bird which sings m the trees, where his colors 
cannot be seen unless you are directly under him, escapes unnoticed. The 
change of the young male Finch from his northern plain garb to the 
full crimson costume is interesting, as it is deliberate, taking two seasons, 
the rosy flush not appearing until the end of the second year. 
In spite of his unique plumage, it is for his song that this bird has 
won renown, and it is by his song that he is most readily to be iden- 
tified. To hear this in its perfection one must listen to it in May 
and June ; for this Finch has not the enduring vocal qualities that endear 
