346 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 237 part i 



supported laterally by branches growing level with the rim. It 

 was not attaclied to its support, but was fairly well crammed between 

 the supporting branches and was reasonably firm. The eggs could 

 be seen through the bottom." 



Eggs. — Ray (1912) illustrates his two sets of eggs of the California 

 pine grosbeak and describes them as follows, using the color names in 

 Ridgway's Nomenclature of Colors, 188G: "The ground color of the 

 eggs approaches closely to Nile Blue (no. 17, Plate IX), but is slightly 

 deeper and more rich in shade. The surface marldngs are spots and 

 blotches, chiefly around the larger end, and in the form of a rough 

 wreath, of black and of a rich deep brown called Vandyke (no. 5, 

 Plate III). There are underlying scattered spots of Wood Brown 

 (no. 19, Plate III), and splashy shell marldngs of Olive Gray (no. 14, 

 Plate II). The eggs are ovate in shape and measure as they lie in 

 the picture 1.02 X .69, 1.02 X .67, and .98 X .71." The eggs in the 

 second set measure in inches 1.02 by .68, 1.00 by .68, and 1.06 by .68. 



The measurements of 40 eggs average 26.1 by 17.7 miUimeters; the 

 eggs showing the four extremes measure 28.8 by 17.4, 25.1 by 18.6, 

 24.4 by 17.5, and 24.7 by 16.8 miUimeters. 



Voice. — Ray (1912) writes: 



The song of the California Pine Grosbeak does not, I think, bear so much 

 resemblance to that of Carpodacus cassini (which Price has compared it with) 

 as it does to that of the Black-headed Grosbeak. However, as it is so much 

 more varied, melodious and rich than that of the Black-headed Grosbeak, the 

 comparison merely serves to give a general idea of its style. The song consists 

 of a series of trills, warblings and mellow, fiute-like notes that must be heard to 

 be appreciated. The bird as a songster ranks easily with the best of the Sierran 

 vocahsts like the Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Water Ouzel and Sierra Hermit Thrush. 

 Unlike the Western Robin which, perched on some tree top, will sing through 

 almost the entire day, the Pine Grosbeak is not a persistent singer and only on 

 rare occasions have I been given the opportunity of hearing its song. 



Winter. — Not until the winter storms come and swirUng clouds of 

 snow cover much of their favorite feeding grounds are these hardy 

 birds forced to move downward to the lower levels in the mountains 

 in search of food. There they find shelter in the dense thickets of 

 mountain alders and abundant food in the berries of the western 

 mountain ash. 



Distribution 



Range. — The California pine grosbeak is resident in the Sierra 

 Nevada of central eastern California (10 miles south of Blairsden, 

 Dinkey Lake in Fresno County). Recorded in summer in western 

 Nevada (Carson Range). 



Egg dates. — California: 11 records, June 4 to June 30. 



