127 



Fig. 108. FEMALE GROSBEAK OX XEST. 



She looks like a big sparrow,— not at all like Iter beautiful 

 mate. 



ly make their homes within cit}^ limits and in such eases 

 often build high up in large trees. The four eggs are 

 greenish-blue^ covered with brow^n spots. 



The male grosbeak is considered, especially by the ladies, 

 as a model bird-husband. He does at least half the work in 

 constructing the home and he sits upon the eggs about as 

 often and as long as his mate does. He is of a jovial dispo- 

 sition and likes his task so well that he commonly sings 

 wdiile sitting on the nest. I have located a number of their 

 nests by searching for the singer. His song, when thus 

 engaged is usually much lower in tone, as though he feared 



