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Range (Eastern North America breeds) (XVII)

Eastern North America; breeds from northern Minnesota and Long Island northward; winters from the northern States to the Gulf. Washington, common W. V., Sept. 15 to May 15, largely a migrant. Sing Sing, rare P. R., common T. V. Cambridge, P. R., very common from Mch. to Oct.; irregular, but sometimes abundant, in winter.

Nest, of twigs, grasses, and rootlets, thickly lined with long hairs, in coniferous trees, five to thirty feet up. Eggs, four to six, blue, spotted about the larger end with fuscous, 79 x 56.

During the nesting season the Purple Finch frequently takes up its abode in private grounds, even becoming a familiar garden bird, while others of its race find a congenial home in wild mountain forests, far away from the society of man. The rosy plumage of the males makes it attractively noticeable as a garden bird; but a serious offense must be charged against it-it has far too ready a taste for the blossoms of fruit trees, and is perhaps the most confirmed bud-eater of all our birds. It has naturally a roving disposition, and, in the autumn especially, seems ever to be impelled by some restless impulse. At this :

FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. season it may often be seen descending with airy, sweeping flight into some leafless treetop, as if from a far aërial journey, its identity made known by its very characteristic utterance, a short, rather dull-sounding note, scarcely metallic-the metal pressed the instant the bell is struck.

Although the Purple Finch often essays to sing in the autumn and earliest spring, its full powers of voice belong alone to the nuptial season. Then it easily takes its place among our noteworthy song birds. Its full song is a sweet-toned, carelessly flowing warble-not too brief to miss definite character as a song, and positive enough in modulation and delivery to find ready place in the memory. At times, indeed, its singing is of a character not to be easily forgotten. The song bursts forth as if from some uncontrollable stress of gladness, and is repeated uninterruptedly over and over again, while the ecstatic bird rises high into the air, and, still singing, descends into the trees.