THE ALASKAN PINE GROSBEAK. 71 



ing from olive-yellow, olive-tawny and ochraceous to hricky red) and chiefly 

 confined to head, hind-neck and upper tail-coverts (where brightest) ; feathers of 

 back frequently tijjped with ochraceous and breast with an ochrey wash. Length 

 about S.60 (218.4); wing 4.60 (117): tail 3.66 (93); bill .^j (14.5); tarsus 

 .89 (22.7). 



Recognition Marks. — Chew'ink size; large, rounded conical beak; red and 

 gray coloration for size distinctive. 



.Nesting. — "Nest, composed of a basement of twigs and rootlets within which 

 is a more compact fabric of finer materials. Eggs, usually 4, pale greenish blue, 

 spotted and blotched with dark brown surface markings and lilac shell-spots." 

 Av. size 1.03 -X .74 (26.7 X 18.8). Season: About June 1st ; one brood. 



General Range. — "Northwestern North America, except Pacific Coast, 

 breeding in interior of Alaska; south, in winter, to eastern British Columbia, 

 Montana ( Bitterroot Valley), etc." ( Ridgway ) . 



Range in Washington. — Reported by Allan Brooks as breeding in the Mt. 

 Baker district (as below) ; should occur upon the timbered lowlands in winter. 



Authorities. — Allan Brooks /;/ c[<ist. Dawson, Auk \'ol. XXV. Oct. 1908, 

 p. 482. 



Specimens. — Prov. 



THIS large and handsome Finch is of very irregular occurrence in 

 southern British Columbia excepting the higher mountain ranges, where it 

 breeds. During some winters it is present in large numbers, while in others, 

 equallv severe, none are seen. The species was very common throughout the 

 winter of 1906-1907, a very severe one; but in that of 1901-1902, which 

 was notably mild, Pine Grosbeaks were noticed in considerable numbers as 

 far south as Penticton. 40 miles liorth of the international boundary, and they 

 undoubtedly occurred much farther south. 



Their food in the winter months is principally berries, but, strange to 

 say, they altogether refuse those of the mountain ash, tjoth the introduced and 

 indigenous species. The former is the favorite food of the Eastern Pine 

 Grosbeak thruout the \\inter in Ontario, but trees loaded with fruit were 

 passed by at Okanagan Landing in the winter of 1906-1907, even after the 

 birds had eaten all the rose hips and snow berries and were reduced to eating 

 weed seeds with the Lcucostictes. 



Either this sub-species or uumtana breeds on all the higher mountain 

 ranges in British Columbia, occupying a zone from timlier line downwards 

 about 2,000 feet. 



My first acquaintance with the Pine Grosbeak at its breeding grounds, 

 was in the Cascade JNIountains due north of JMt. Baker, on both sides of the 

 Fortv-ninth Parallel. Here the species was a somewhat sparing breeder 

 close to timber line among the hemlock and balsam timber. They were 

 feeding young on the 17th of July; at the same time Crossbills had fully 



