336



Nesting of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak.



The upper surface of the male is (in the breeding colour') chiefly

black, but there are white spots at the tips of the secondaries,

etc. and upper tail coverts, and the inner webs of three outer-tail

feathers are white. When flying away he has a pied appearance.

The under surface is a very bright and pure white, a large patch

of cardinal rose-red on the fore-neck and centre of breast, this

colour running down into a point. The sides of the body and

thighs are rather greyer, flecked with black. The under wing-

coverts are rosy, the beak whitish ; feet grey-blue ; eyes dark

hazel-brown.


The contrast of black, white, and the beautiful rosy red is

very fine and equally conspicuous. The female is altogether

different, her general effect being ochre-brown, streaked and

spotted with a brown of a much darker tint, or black; her under

wing-coverts are orange-yellow.


Dr. Butler, in his work referred to already, says: “ In the

“autumn the rose-red (of the male) disappears, to reappear at

“the approach of the breeding season,” and he adds, “ This fact,

“ observed by Dr. Russ, has been questioned by scientists.”

Why, I do not understand, for it is a well-known fact, or ought

to be, that the male Rose-breasted Grosbeak has a distinct winter

plumage. I have seen mine go through three bi-annual moults,

and his winter plumage is very dingy as compared with that of

the spring and summer.


In the autumn the Rosy-red on the breast all but dis¬

appears, being obliterated by brown, the white of the under-parts

loses its brightness and is splashed with brown, as also is the

black of the upper parts; but, about March, the bright and

pure colours commence to reappear, each year becoming more

brilliant.


These birds seem to feel the damp and cold of the English

winter, and for that reason I removed mine from an outdoor

aviary and put them into the empty bedroom, where they have

done extremely well. The song of the male is difficult to describe

(what bird’s song is not?) but it is gay and buoyant, although

disjointed. The quality of the notes is good however. They are

very quiet birds, not moving about so actively as the Cardinals,

and they are very tameable. They are summer migrants to



