SPARROWS AND FINCHES 59 



Pine Grosbeak. Among the visitors that come 

 down from the frozen north during the winter 

 season is a large and beautiful bird, the Pine 

 Grosbeak, or Pine Bullfinch, as it is sometimes 

 called. On these excursions they are rather shy 

 and keep closely to cover, but when found in 

 summer in the coniferous forests of the north, 

 they are fearless and friendly. I have stood 

 where I could almost reach them without dis- 

 turbing them in the least, as they fed on spruce 

 cones, the handsome plumage of the male 

 making a striking picture seen against the back- 

 ground of deep green. They also feed upon pine 

 cones. They are large birds, almost as long as 

 the Robin and much stouter. The short, thick 

 bill has a slight hook at the end, a useful imple- 

 ment for cone-tearing. 



The color of the male is olive-gray with rich 

 Indian-red on the head and neck, reaching well 

 down upon the body. The wings and tail are 

 marked with streaks of black, w^hite and slate. 

 The females and young males have, in general, 

 yellowish green where the male is red. The 

 under parts are gray with a tinge of yellow 

 under the tail. In winter they range irregularly 

 in flocks through the Northern States, rarely 

 reaching the vicinity of New York City. On 

 these wanderings they feed upon berries of the 

 sumac and mountain ash. They nest in the far 

 north in coniferous trees. They are said to have 

 a delightful song which I have not had the good 

 fortune to hear, for I have found them strangely 

 silent. 



Another beautiful bird of this family is the 



