BULLFINCHES. 
533 
was neatly and compactly formed. They seem indeed 
much attached to evergreens, frequenting their shade, 
during the heat of the day. They sing at various times, 
but most vigorously in the morning and evening. From 
another person who has also seen the nest of this species, 
I learn, that it is commonly in an evergreen, contains 
very few eggs or young, and that they raise but a single 
brood in the season, which are not hatched before mid- 
summer. 
The Crimson Finch is from 6 to 6J inches in length, and 9 or 
more in alar extent. Crimson, much deeper on the head and chin ; 
the breast and rump paler, inclining to rosaceous. The back appears 
much spotted with dusky. The wings and tail are also dusky, edged 
with reddish ; vent and centre of the belly white ; the sides under 
the wings clouded with dull brownish. Legs brownish flesh-color. 
Bill dull, dark horn-color. Irides hazel. In young males, the crim- 
son feathers of the head and neck, are sometimes edged with rose- 
color, so that the brilliant tint is only seen by reflected light ; as 
the margins, however, wear off, the vesture, in early spring, attains 
its proper color. Audubon observes, that among the flocks which 
winter in the South, there are as many red individuals as in sum- 
mer ; here they are less common at that season ; it is therefore not 
improbable that the young males proceed farther south, generally, 
than either the females or younger birds. Mr. Cooper remarks, that 
in the vicinity of New York the purple are as common as the brown 
birds. 
BULLFINCHES. (Pyrrhula. Briss.) 
In these birds the bill is short, robust, thick, convex-conic, turgid 
at the sides, compressed at the point, the upper mandible acute, and 
obviously curved, as well as the inferior more or less ; palate smooth 
and scooped. Nostrils basal, lateral, rounded, and most commonly 
concealed by the feathers of the frontlet. Tongue thick, and some- 
what fleshy. Tarsus shorter than the middle toe, which is united 
at base to the outer. — Wings rather short ; the 3 first primaries 
graduated, the 4th longest. Tail slightly rounded or square. — The 
female differs considerably from the male. They moult generally 
twice in the year. 
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