PURPLE FINCH. 
373 
Although the Purple Finch breeds and passes the season in 
this vicinity, yet as early as the close of September they leave 
us for the South ; about which time and nearly to the close of 
October, small, hungry, roving flocks arrive from the more 
northern States and Canada or Newfoundland. At the same 
time likewise great numbers visit Pennsylvania, the maritime 
parts of New York and New Jersey, and many pass the winter 
in the Middle States, while others proceed as far south as the 
States of Louisiana, Florida, and Texas, returning north in the 
latter end of March or early in April, and arriving with us in 
the month of May to pass the most important period of their 
existence. Roving flocks are also seen here as early as the 
24th of March, singing while they stay with great energy and 
cheerfulness ; these in all probability proceed to Labrador or 
Newfoundland to breed. The males now have many bitter 
contests for the choice of their mates, and are very bold and 
pugnacious in confinement, attempting to destroy every other 
bird introduced into the same cage. They also bite severely 
when taken up wounded, but are directly reconciled to the 
cage, finding their most important wants so amply supplied; 
yet in this state they often refuse to sing, and after moulting 
into the humble plumage of the female, frequently remain so, 
without ever renewing their crimson dress. They are here 
exposed in cages for sale at high prices (by the name of 
Linnets), and sing pretty commonly in confinement. Their 
notes are very similar to those of the Warbling Vireo, but 
louder, and more agreeably diversified. From the tops of our 
lofty and spreading elms or shadowy spruce trees, where they 
delight to pass the time, their varied and very cheerful melody 
is often continued for hours almost rrithout interval, and 
poured forth like a torrent. After a combat with a rival, his 
towering notes of victory burst out into rapture, and he now 
seems to triumph with loud and petulant hilarity. The song 
of this beautiful Finch is indeed much finer than that of the 
Canary ; the notes are remarkably clear and mellow, and the 
trilling sweet and various, particularly on their first arrival. At 
times the warble is scarcely audible, and appears at a distance ; 
