174 
THE PURPLE FINCH. 
middle toe, covered anteriorly with a longitudinal plate above and a few 
transverse scutella below, posteriorly with an acutely angular longitudinal 
plate ; toes scutellate above, free, the lateral ones nearly equal ; claws slen 
der, arched, compressed, acute, that of the hind toe not much larger. 
Plumage compact above, blended beneath, wings of moderate length, third 
and fourth primaries longest, second and first very little shorter. Tail 
forked. The lateral feathers curved outwards toward the tip. 
Bill deep brown above, paler and tinged with blue beneath. Iris blackish- 
brown. Feet and claws brown. Head, neck, breast, back, and upper tail- 
coverts of a rich deep lake, approaching to crimson on the head and neck, 
and fading into rose-colour on the belly. Fore part of the back streaked 
with brown. Quills and larger coverts deep brown, margined externally 
and tipped with red. Tail feathers deep brown, similarly margined. A 
narrow band of cream-colour across the forehead, margining the base of the 
upper mandible. 
Length 6 inches, extent of wings 9, beak along the ridge along the 
gap t 7 2 , tarsus -f. 
Female. 
The young bird so closely resembles the adult female, that the same 
description will answer for both. The general colour of the upper parts is 
brownish olive, streaked with dark brown. There is a broadish white line 
over the eye, and another from the commissure of the gap backwards. The 
under parts are greyish-white, the sides streaked with brown. The quills 
and tail-feathers are dark brown, margined with olive. 
The Red Larch. 
Larix Americana, Purscli , FI. Amer., vol. ii. p. 645. Mich., Arbr. Forest, de l’Amer 
Sept., vol. iii. p. 137, pi. 4. — Moncecia polyandria, Linn . — Conifers, Juss. 
This species of larch, which is distinguished by its short, deciduous, fasci- 
culate leaves, and short ovate cones, occurs in the more northern parts of the 
United States, and in the mountainous regions of the middle states. It 
attains a height of sixty feet, and a diameter sometimes of two feet. The 
wood is highly esteemed on account of its excellent qualities. 
