lo THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



obtain the eggs of the Waxwing. The nest of the 

 Pine-Grosbeak is usually made in a spruce fir, or less 

 frequently in a birch, some ten or twelve feet from the 

 p-round, on a horizontal branch near the trunk. It is 

 somewhat loosely put together, and made much on the 

 same model as that of the Bullfinch or the Crossbill. 

 Externally it is made of fir or birch twigs carelessly 

 interlaced, and internally of roots, grass, and fine hair- 

 like lichens. It is rather flat, and the finer materials 

 project for some way over the foundation of twigs. Dur- 

 ing the nesting season this bird is shy and seclusive, 

 especially the female, who when flushed from her charge 

 makes little demonstration unless the eggs are much 

 incubated. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Pine-Grosbeak are normally four in 

 number, but occasionally three. They are clear greenish- 

 blue in ground colour, handsomely spotted or speckled 

 with rich blackish-brown and paler brown, and with 

 underlying markings of lavender-gray. On some eggs 

 the spots form an irregular zone round the larger end, 

 many being frequently confluent, whilst on most the 

 markings are chiefly about that part of the ^g%. An 

 occasional streak of dark-brown sometimes occurs. On 

 some eggs the markings are smaller — little more than 

 specks — and more evenly dispersed over the entire sur- 

 face. Average measurement, ro inch in length, by 

 72 inch in breadth. Period of incubation apparently 

 unknown. 



Diagnostic characters : The eggs of the Pine- 

 Grosbeak cannot readily be confused with those of any 

 other British species, their large size readily identifying 

 them amongst those of all other Finches reputed British. 



