brown rootlets. These are so curly and curved, and interlaced and twisted together at the rim, that the 
inner nest suggests a piece of silver filigree work. The diameter of the cavity is about two inches; the 
depth, one inch. Another nest is very similar in size and shape, but has in its foundation a few weed- 
stems, and in the interior nest or lining a few horse-hairs. Upon the whole, these nests resemble 
closely nests of the Sparrows which build upon the ground, being much flatter than is usual with nests 
built in trees. 
EGGS: 
The complement of eggs is four, five, or six, seldom the last number. The ground-color is beautiful 
greenish-blue when first blown, but as with all eggs of this color, they soon fade to dull, light blue. 
The. markings consist of blotches, spots, and speckles, and occasionally lines and scrawls of very dark 
brown, almost black. The deep shell-marks appear gray or lilac, according to their depth. As a rule, the 
eggs are sparingly spotted and speckled, chiefly about the base. Occasionally an egg is spotted from 
point to base rather plentifully, with here and there a blotch or scrawl and a few speckles, and also 
occasionally an egg nearly unmarked is seen. Three sets show variations in long-diameter, from .78 to 
84; and in short-diameter, from .56 to .63. A common size is about .59 x .79. “ North American Birds ” 
gives their length from .81 to .92 of an inch, and their breadth from .60 to .70 of an inch. Davie gives 
their average at .65 x .85 of an inch, and Capen in “Oology of New England,’ 7 says: “They vary in 
dimensions from .72 to .80 in length by .53 to .62 of an inch in breadth.” 
DIFFERENTIAL POINTS: 
The nest and eggs of the Purple Finch resemble the nest and eggs of the Chipping Sparrow in 
many respects, but there is so much difference in size that they can be easily distinguished, the one 
from the other. There are no other nests and eggs with which this species can be confounded, by even a 
casual observer, if attention is paid to measurements. 
REMARKS : 
Plate LXV1II, Fig. 8, illustrates three eggs of the Purple Finch, of the common sizes, shapes, and 
markings. They are colored from cabinet specimens. There is a number of nests which the limits of 
this work will not permit of illustrating. We regret this in every instance, but especially when a nest 
as beautiful as the one under consideration must be omitted. This work was promised to be completed 
in twenty-three parts, containing sixty-nine plates; that number has now been reached, and rather than 
continue it through another year or two, it seems best to leave out the nests of many species, and group a 
number of eggs upon one plate; by so doing, the eggs of all known summer residents can be figured, 
but many nests will be left, possibly for illustration in the future as an appendix, at which time the 
birds can also be added. 
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