450 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



early in the morning to receive his allowance of seed. As spring approached, 

 he be'mn to whistle in the mornint;, and his notes were e.xceedingly rich and 

 full. As the time came wlien his mates were moving nortli, his familiarity 

 entirely disappeared, and he sought constantly, by day and by night, to escape 

 by dashing against the window-panes, and during the day filled the house 

 with his piteous wailing cries, refusing his food, so that in pity lie was let 

 out. But no sooner was he thus released than he seemed indifferent to the 

 privilege, and kept about the door so persistently that he had at last to be 

 driven away, lest some accident should befall him. 



The Pine Grosbeaks were found by Bischofi' at Sitka and at Kodiak, and 

 are said by Mr. Dall to be extremely common near Nulato, and wherever 

 there are trees throughout the Yukon Territory. They frequent groves of 

 willow and poplar, near open places, and especially the water-side in winter, 

 and in summer seek more retired places for breeding. Their crops, when 

 opened, were always found to contain the hearts of the buds of poplars, with 

 the external coverings carefully rejected, and were never found to include 

 anything else. Mr. Dall noticed no s<mg, only a twitter and a long chirp. He 

 found them e.xcelleut as an article of food. European eggs of this bird, taken 

 by Mr. WoUey in Finland in 1 8.58, are of an oblong-oval shape, and liave a 

 light slate-colored ground with a marked tinge of greenish, Ijroadly marked 

 and plashed with faint, subdued cloudy patches of brownish-]iur])le, and spar- 

 ingly spotted, chiefly at tlie larger end, witli blackisli-brown and dark purple. 

 They measure 1.02 inches in length by .70 in brea(Uli. 



No positively identified eggs of tlie American Pine Grosbeak are as 

 yet known in collections, but Mr. Boardman has found a nest, near Calais, 

 about which there can be little doubt, although tlie parent was not seen. 

 This was placed in an alder-busli in a wet meadow, and was about four 

 feet from the ground. It was composed entirely of coarse green mosses. 

 The eggs were two, and were not distinguishable irom those of tlie 

 EuroiJean envckator. 



Genus PYRRHULA, 1'allas. 



Pi/rrhuln, " Brisson, Orn. 1760." Pau,a.s. 



Gen'. Char. Bill very sliort. and thick, hi<rlier than long, !?wolloii. Lower jaw broailer 

 at base than upper jaw, and broader than length of gonys. Nostrils and base of mandible 

 concealed by a thick tuft of rather soft feathers. Tail nearly even, shorter than the 

 pointed wings; upper coverts reaching over neariy two thirds the tail. Middle and hind 

 claws about equal. 



This genus is closely related to Pin.icola, but has a more swollen and much 

 shorter bill, the lower jaw disproportionately larger, and wider than long along 

 gonys, instead of being about equal. The nasal tuft is thicker and more 

 feathery and less bristly than in Pinicula. The ujiper tail-coverts are much 



