PASSEKES FEINGILL1DAE H. MELA^OCEPHALUS. 297 



ROW & HENSHAW, Eep. Orn. Specs., 1872, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 15. 

 HENSHAW, An. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y., xi, 1874, 6. Jrf., An. List Birds 

 Utah, 1872, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 45. Id., Eep. Orn. Specs., 1873, 

 Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 03, 81, 119. 



This bird replaces, in the Middle and Western Region, the Rose-breasted 

 Grosbeak of the East, whose habits generally coincide closely with its own ; 

 but, unlike that species, the Black-headed Grosbeak, instead of being quite 

 local in its distribution and rather rare, is generally diffused, and wherever 

 found is apt to be very numerous. It seems to evince no special predilec- 

 tion for locality, but to find a congenial summer home in the thick cotton- 

 wood groves and the deciduous trees and bushes along streams, whence 

 it finds its way upward ; and I have found it in Arizona to inhabit numer- 

 ously the pine woods of the mountains, where I have never observed it, 

 however, higher than between 7,000 and 8,000 feet, and generally lower. 

 It appears especially fond of the buds of various deciduous trees and plants, 

 and the bills of many of those taken had been stained and gummed with 

 their juices. It has a superb song, which, though greatly resembling that 

 of its eastern cousin, is, I think, in some respects, its superior ; while pos- 

 sessing the same sweetness of tone and beauty of expression, it is more rapidly 

 and powerfully given, while the cadences rise and fall in rapid succession, 

 thus giving a more varied character to the tone. 



In the pine woods near Camp Apache, Ariz., just after the sun had fairly 

 sunk below the woods, these grosbeaks ascended to the tops of the tallest 

 pines, and thence sent forth their sweet strains till long after dusk had 

 settled down upon the deep forest, and it became so dark that my way back 

 to the camp fire was rendered difficult by the obstructing roots and logs I 

 could no longer see. It was by means of these delightful concerts with 

 which they closed each day that I became aware of the presence of the 

 birds here, since, during the day, I never observed them, and judge they 

 must have kept themselves far up among the pines, from which they obtained 

 their food. They were very shy, ceasing their notes the instant I came near 

 the tree upon which the singer perched, and flying off to a distance to resume 

 their song undisturbed. The species appears to be about equally numerous 

 in Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. 



