EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 235 



A nest of true L. bifasciata, taken near Archangel, is described 

 by Mr. Dresser as closely resembling that of the Common Cross- 

 bill, but smaller and slighter in structure. He also remarks that 

 the eggs are rather darker in ground-colour than those of that 

 species, and are smaller in size, but otherwise closely resemble 

 them. 



THE PINE GROSBEAK. 



(Loxia enuclca tor.) *• 



Plate 56, Fig. 4. 



The Pine Grosbeak is said to be a very rare winter visitor to 

 the British Islands, but the evidences of its occurrence are not at 

 all satisfactory. It is a circumpolar bird, breeding in the forests 

 at or near the Arctic circle. 



The nest is made on the same model as that of the Hawfinch 

 and Bullfinch, but of coarser materials. The outside is a frame- 

 work of slender fir-twigs ; and the inside, which projects above 

 the outside, is composed of roots, fine grass, and a lichen which 

 grows on the branches of the trees, and might easily be mistaken 

 for hair. 



The number of eggs varies from three to four ; they measure 

 from 1-07 to 0-97 inch in length, and from 074 to 07 in breadth. 

 They may be described as large, handsome Bullfinch's eggs. The 

 ground-colour is pale greenish-blue, boldly spotted, principally 

 at the larger end, with surface-spots varying from rich brown to 

 almost black, and with underlying spots of greyer brown. Some 

 eggs are also profusely speckled with very small spots, and occa- 

 sionally a Chaffinch-like streak is seen on the large end. On some 

 eggs the spots are so large and numerous as to be more or less 

 confluent. 



THE SCARLET ROSEFINCH. 

 (Carpodacus erythrinus.) 



Plate 56, Fig. 9. 



The claims of the Scarlet Rosefinch to be considered a British 

 bird rest upon the occurrence of two examples on our shores. 

 The species breeds throughout North Europe and Siberia, from 

 the Baltic to the Pacific. 



* Pinicola enucleator — Saunders, Manual, p. 191 ; Sharpe, Handb., I., p. 63. 



