BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
227 
Genus CARPODACUS Kaup 
Carpodacus purpureus (Gmel.). 
Purple Finch ; Crimson Finch. 
Description {PlateSO; Figs . 1 and 2). 
Adult male .—Crimson ; brightest on head; belly and lower tail-coverts whitish; 
wings and tail dusky ; feathers on middle of back have dark centers. Female and 
young olivaceous-brown, paler below, and everywhere streaked, but have no red ; 
immature males are found in various conditions of plumage. 
Habitat .—Eastern North America, from the Atlantic coast to the plains. Breeds 
from the Middle States northward. 
The Crimson Finch, so called from the crimson-colored dress of the 
| adult male, is about as large as the common English Sparrow. This 
| species breeds occasionally and sparingly in Pennsylvania, particularly 
j in the northern* parts of the state—Erie, Crawford and a few other 
counties. I have found these birds to be much more numerous in the 
spring and autumn than in winter. They are found chiefly in forests, 
though it is not unusual to see them about houses, which they some¬ 
times visit in company with other species of sparrows. These birds are 
mostly observed in flocks; in winter, however, it is not uncommon to 
find them singly or in pairs, especially in the southern parts of the 
| commonwealth. In the spring I have noticed that their brown and cone- 
shaped bills are usually covered with particles of buds or other succulent 
vegetable substances, on which they mainly subsist at this season; the 
feathers of the forehead and throat are also more or less discolored by 
the juices of their plant food. The food of the Crimson Finch is made 
up chiefly of vegetable materials, particularly the buds and blossoms of 
| different forest, fruit and shade trees. Various kinds of small seeds, 
; as well as berries and some few insects are also eaten. I have examined 
the stomach contents of twenty-one Purple Finches captured in Chester 
county, Pa., in the latter part of March, during April and from May 1st 
to 15tli. Sixteen of these birds had fed exclusively on buds and 
blossoms; three, small seeds; two, beetles and flies in addition to 
vegetable matter. In this locality the buds of the beech and maple 
; trees constitute a very large proportion of their diet. Wilson writing of 
this species says: “ This is a winter bird 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, buttonwood, juniper, cedar and on those of 
many rank weeds that flourish in rich bottoms and along the margins 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 fre- 
* According to the observations of my friend Prof. August Kock, this species is a regular breeder in the 
city of Williamsport (Lycoming county). Their bulky nests, composed externally of twigs or small 
sticks, and lined internally with miscellaneous and soft materials, have always been found, by Prof. 
Kock. in a Norway or other pine tree. The gentleman named above says he has never known them to 
breed in woods in his locality, but always in trees along the streets or in yards. 
