384 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE 



EVENING GROSBEAKS AT REST AMONG THE llTRCHES. 



seen this winter in Massachusetts. 

 Meriden, N. H., had a flock of thirty ; 

 Lebanon, thirty-six, while Concord, 

 Nashua, Woodsville and Hanover were 

 also visited. We have received reports 

 of these birds from Port Chester. N. 

 Y., Bennington, Vermont and West- 

 brook, Maine, and it will doubtless be 

 found that the invasion has covered a 

 much more extended area than here 

 mentioned. 



The beauty of these birds ; their ap- 

 parent fearlessness of man, and their 

 regular visitations to certain feeding 

 grounds, have made them objects of 

 special attraction wherever they have 

 become known. 



'SECURELY CAUGHT IN THE STRONG MESH. 



The accompanying photographs were 

 taken by the writer at Lexington, 

 Massachusetts, where pilgrimages 

 were made to study the small flock 

 visiting that town. 



Here a flock of six birds came regu- 

 larly about eight o'clock in the morn- 

 ing to feed upon the dried apples of a 

 Japanese crab ; this tree being abun- 

 dantly laden with the small cherry- 

 like fruit which remains in clusters at- 

 tached to the twigs throughout the 

 winter. They were reported as feeding 

 ])reviously upon the clinging seeds of 

 an ash-leaved maple nearby, and after 

 having practically stripped this tree of 

 its seeds, they resorted to the crab. 

 I also observed them later feeding on 

 berries of the poison ivy ; upon birch 

 seeds, and upon the pits, or stones of 

 wild cherry. These pits, they would 

 turn in their powerful bills until they 

 were placed just right, when they 

 would easily crack them open, reject- 

 ing the hard outer shells and eating 

 the soft inner pulp. 



Their manners in feeding and mov- 

 ing about were leisurely, and they 

 seemed to pay no attention to obser- 

 vers a few yards away. No notes were 

 heard from these birds while feeding, 

 but in each instance, just before taking 

 flight, a low, chirping call was given 

 In' one of the males ; then answered by 

 the others, when they would suddenly 

 all take wing at once, flying in a com- 

 ]iact flock, with a strong, slightly undu- 

 latins: flisfht. 



