56 Thk Pixk-Grosbhak 



Family— FRIXGILLILhE. Subfamily -FR I Mj 11. LLWE. 



The Pink-Grosbeak. 



Pyy)linla cmiclcatoy, LiNN. 



FROM time to time some five and twenty occurrences of this species in Great 

 Britain had been recorded previous to 1900; but, as Howard Saunders 

 says : — " Professor Newton (4th Ed. Yarrell's B. B.) has disposed of all but 

 five as unworthy of belief; while, to my mind, few even of these sifted records 

 are entitled to acceptance." In 1905 a small flock appeared near Hawkhurst in 

 Kent, and subsequently in Ashburuham Park, Sussex ; several specimens being 

 shot. 



It seems to me that even if the species has been shot here, the probabilit}^ is 

 that (in every case) the examples have either escaped or been freed from confine- 

 ment ; inasmuch as it is not oul}- imported from time to time as a cage-bird, but 

 in my short experience (commencing in Jul}' 1896)* the birds, though wonderfully 

 tame and intelligent, are too powerful and destructive to be trusted with weaker 

 companions, and eat so voraciously that their food makes a distinct difference in 

 one's expenses : they are like most insect-eating finches, very fond of earthworms 

 and green food ; but the quantity of sunflower-seed and hemp which they devour 

 in a day is astonishing, whilst their chief amusement in my aviar}' consisted in 

 tearing ivy to pieces. A man in a hurry to part with such birds would be verj^ 

 likely to turn them loose. 



There is an interesting account of the breeding of this species in captivity 

 by Mr. W. H. St. Quintin, in the " Avicultural Magazine" 2nd sec. Vol. V, 

 PP- .55-56 (1906). 



* JI}' frieiiil Mr. J.inies H. I'lciiiiiig, of Ontario, very kindly sent nic hall" a dozen specimens, all of which 

 reached me iu good health. 



