. Animal life in the Yosemite; an account of the mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians in a cross-section of the Sierra Nevada. Zoology. PUBPLE FINCHES 421 Finch of the higher mountains, and the California Purple Finch of middle altitudes, the subject of the present chapter. The California Purple Finch is the species most likely to be seen by the average visitor to the Yosemite region, for it is the one to be found on the floor of Yosemite Valley during the summer months, and, in the winter season, it is abundant at El Portal, the main entrance to the Park. It is noteworthy as being the onl
. Animal life in the Yosemite; an account of the mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians in a cross-section of the Sierra Nevada. Zoology. PUBPLE FINCHES 421 Finch of the higher mountains, and the California Purple Finch of middle altitudes, the subject of the present chapter. The California Purple Finch is the species most likely to be seen by the average visitor to the Yosemite region, for it is the one to be found on the floor of Yosemite Valley during the summer months, and, in the winter season, it is abundant at El Portal, the main entrance to the Park. It is noteworthy as being the only migra- tory member of the group, both of the others being practically resident in their respective ranges throughout the year. The name purple finch, as applied to two of these birds, refers to the color of the plumage of the adult males, which is the ancient reddish, or Tyrian, purple. To most persons, however, this name is misleading, for the tone is not purple in the sense of violet. The females and young males are much duller colored than the old males, altogether lacking the red. In both of the purple finches the tail is notched or indented at the end (emarginate), while that of the linnet is practically square ended (fig. 50) ; and these respective characters of the tail are shared by both sexes and all ages so that they become satisfactory field marks when the observer finds himself in a position to use them. Old male purple finches have the whole crown of the head red while in the male linnet the crown is brown, the red being restricted to a band across the forehead and along the sides of the head. Male purple finches in the 'purple' plumage are unstreaked beneath, while the male linnet, of more carmine hue, has the belly and flanks marked ^vith narrow longitudinal streaks of brown. Contrasting the two purple finches, now, one with the other, the California is seen to be somewhat smaller than the Cassin, and whereas the male of the former has the red on the breast and
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Keywords: ., bookauthorgr, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectzoology
