182 
PURPLE FINCH. 
seems particularly attached to the society of man. It gleans 
among the leaves, occasionally darting after winged insects, 
and searching for caterpillars ; and seems by its manners to 
partake considerably of the nature of the genus Sylvia . It is 
late in departing, and I have frequently heard its notes among 
the fading leaves of the poplar in October. 
This little bird may be distinguished from all the rest of 
our songsters by the soft, tender, easy flow of its notes, while 
hid among the foliage. In these there is nothing harsh, 
sudden, or emphatical; they glide along in a kind of meandering 
strain, that is peculiarly its own. In May and June it may 
be generally heard in the orchards, the borders of the city, 
and around the farm-house. 
This species is five inches and a half long, and eight inches 
and a half in extent ; bill, dull lead colour above, and notched 
near the point, lower, a pale flesh colour ; eye, dark hazel ; 
line over the eye, and whole lower parts, white, the latter 
tinged with very pale greenish yellow near the breast ; upper 
parts, a pale green olive ; wings, brown, broadly edged with 
pale olive green ; tail, slightly forked, edged with olive ; the 
legs and feet, pale lead ; the head inclines a little to ash ; no 
white on the wings or tail. Male and female nearly alike. 
PURPLE FINCH FRINGILLA PURPUREA. 
Plate XLIL Fig. 3. 
ERYTHROSPIZA PURPUREA. —Bonaparte.* 
This bird is represented as he appears previous to receiving 
his crimson plumage, and also when moulting. By recurring 
to the figure in Vol. I. pi. 7. fig. 4. of this work, which exhibits 
him in his full dress, the great difference of colour will be 
observed to which this species is annually subject. 
It is matter of doubt with me wdiether this species ought 
not to be classed with the Loxia ; the great thickness of the 
* See description of adult male, Note and Synonyms, Vol. I. p. 119. 
