THE PINE GROSBEAK. 



37 



General Range. — Northeastern and central-northern North America, breed- 

 ing from northern New England northward nearly to the limit of trees; south 

 in winter irregularly into the upper tier of the eastern states, — New England, 

 Wisconsin, etc. 



Range in Ohio. — A rare winter visitor. 



ANOTHER of our rarer winter birds, whose occasional visits serve only 

 to stimulate a desire on our part for a closer acquaintance, is the Pine Grosbeak, 

 It is almost exclusively a bird of the deep pine forests, so it is not to be wondered 

 at that it so seldom ventures into our state. While found more commonly in 

 Pennsylvania and regularly in New England, it breeds only from the northern 

 portions of the latter region northward. Like many another woodland recluse 

 the Pine Grosbeak often appears dazed when it encounters civilization and 

 may not infrequently be taken with butterfly nets or even with the hand. It is 

 on record that the markets of Boston were abundantly supplied one winter with 

 these birds. It was, of course, in the early days (1835), when the Puritan 

 stomach was less influenced by sentimental considerations. Or it was perhaps 

 before a higher use had been found for them, namely, to decorate ladies' 

 bonnets. 



Altho such a timid recluse, with little of the savoir faire of the world, the 

 Pine Grosbeak is a born poet and dispenses sweetest music to his neighbors in 

 the Laurentian wilds. The song is described as "clear, sweet and flowing, like 

 that of the Purple Finch," but stronger, of course, as becomes the larger size. 



The food habits of this species are as yet imperfectly known. .They are 

 known at least to eat small fruit of all sorts with avidity, and specimens obtained 

 in the far Northwest were found to have Eared exclusively upon poplar buds. 

 When with us mountain ash trees are sure to be visited, and cedar berries, when 

 obtainable, are very welcome. 



It is noteworthy also that the southward moving flocks of winter are com- 

 posed almost exclusively of young males and sombre-colored females, while the 

 older males remain for the most part in their northern homes. 



