122 
General Notes. 
of red. In the depth of winter they collect around houses, oftentimes in flocks 
of several hundreds, appearing to be particularly fond of feeding and picking 
in places around an house where slops have been thrown, and especially where 
anything salt or briny has been cast ; and they are so tame as often to be taken. 
But what is extraordinary, and makes this bird worthy of notice, is, that they 
lay their eggs and hatch their young in the middle of winter. 
Samuel C. Crafts, Esq., informs me that a person of entire credibility in 
Craftsbury assured him that in the depth of winter, sometimes in February, he 
discovers at one time as many as twelve of their nests on one small shrubby 
Hacmatac-tree, in which there were eggs, and the birds were then setting and 
hatching. As a confirmation of this, he also assures me, that when they have 
been taken in the dead of winter, and been opened, litters of eggs have been 
found in the females, and a part of them with shells, in a state of maturity, to 
be laid. The naturalist will, I think, be inclined to notice this -curiosity, not- 
withstanding the minutia of the thing, and the insignificancy of the bird as to 
size. He may do it, also, perhaps, with more security from sarcasm than if he 
lived in the vicinity of Peter Pindar. I am, sir, yours, &c., 
Thomas Tolman. 
Notes on the Purple Fincit. — It has been a matterof remark that sev- 
eral of our once rare birds have largely increased in numbers within a few 
years, and I think in no case is this so apparent as in that of the Purple Finch 
(Carpodacus purpureus). At the same time its distribution extends over 
a much larger range. It was formerly considered a strictly northern mi- 
grant, but has recently become resident in Massachusetts, where it breeds 
quite plentifully in certain sections, and from the following instance would 
seem inclined to remain even farther south. Among some notes taken at 
Bayeide, L. I., I find under date of April 21, of this year : “ Saw a Purple 
Finch (male) in full song and plumage and apparently resident.” In the 
early part of June I visited the same locality and again saw both male 
and female. Feeling sure they must have nested there, after diligent 
search I discovered the nest, located, as usual, some forty feet from the 
ground, near the top of a large spruce-tree, and contained only two eggs, 
well advanced in incubation. This was June 15, and I am at a loss to 
explain the reason of tlmir late domestic arrangements, except with the 
surmise that their first nest was destroyed, or that they felt out of their 
latitude, as indeed their actions seemed to indicate. They remained in 
the vicinity but a short time after, and, I think, did not attempt another 
nest. The construction of the nest, its situation, and the eggs, except in 
number, were almost identical with a set procured just previously at Grand 
Menan. This is, I believe, the most southern point at which the species 
has been found breeding. — R. F. Pearsall, New York City. 
Nesting of the Black-throated Bunting ( Euspiza americana) 
in Massachusetts. — On page 45, Vol. Ill, of the Bulletin, Mr. Purdie 
records the finding of two nests of this Bunting in Medford, Mass., in 
June, 1877, one containing eggs and the other young, and on page 190 
