PURPLE FINCH. 
] 19 
PURPLE FINCH FRINGILLA PURPUREA. 
Plate VII. Fig. 4. 
Fringilla purpurea, Gmel. Syst. i. 923. — Bouvreuil violet de la Caroline, Buff. iv. 
395. — Purple Finch, Arct. Zool. ii. No. 258. — Catesb. i. 41. — Lath. Synop. iii. 
275, 39 Crimson-headed Finch, Arct. Zool. ii. No. 257. — Lath. Synop. iii. 
275, 39. — Gmel. Syst. i. 864. — Fringilla rosea Pallas, iii. 699, 26. — Hemp Bird, 
Bartram, 291. — Fringilla Purpurea, Id. 291 Peale's Museum, No. 6504. 
ER YTHROSPIZA P URP UREA. — Bonaparte. 
Fringilla purpurea, JBonap. Synop. p. 114. — Purple Finch, Aud. i. p. 24. PI. iv — 
Fringilla purpurea, Crested Purple Finch, North. Zool. ii. p. 264. — Erythrospiza 
purpurea, Osserv. di C. L. Bonap. Sulla Sec. Ed. del. Cuv. Beg. Anim. p. 80. 
This is a winter bir<J of passage, coming to us in large 
flocks from the north, in September and October ; great 
numbers remaining with us in Pennsylvania during the whole 
winter, feeding on the seeds of the poplar, button-wood, 
juniper, cedar, and on those of many rank weeds that flourish 
in rich bottoms, and along the margin of creeks. When the 
season is very severe, they proceed to the south, as far at least 
as Georgia, returning north early in April. They now 
frequent the elm trees, feeding on the slender but sweet 
covering of the flowers ; and as soon as the cherries put out 
their blossoms, feed almost exclusively on the stamina of the 
flowers; afterwards the apple blossoms are attacked in the 
same manner ; and their depredations on these continue till 
they disappear, which is usually about the 10th or middle 
of May. I have been told, that they sometimes breed in 
the northern parts of New York, but have never met with 
their nests. About the middle of September, I found these 
birds numerous on Long Island, and round Newark in New 
Jersey. They fly at a considerable height in the air, and 
their note is a single clunk , like that of the Rice Bird. They 
possess great boldness and spirit, and, when caught, bite 
