456 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



early in the morning to receive his allowance of seed. As spring approached, 

 lie began to whistle in the morning, and his notes were exceedingly rich and 

 full. As the time came when his mates were moving north, his familiarity 

 entirely disappeared, and he sought constantly, by day and by night, to escape 

 by dashing against the window-panes, and during the day filled the house 

 with his piteous wailing cries, refusing his food, so that in pity lie was let 

 out. But no sooner was he thus released than he seemed indifferent to the 

 privilege, and kept about the door so persistently tliat he had at last to be 

 driven away, lest some accident should befall him. 



Tlie Pine Grosbeaks were found by Bischoff at Sitka and at Kodiak, and 

 are said by Mr. Dall to be extremely common near Nulato, and wherever 

 there are trees throughout the Yukon Territory. They frequent groves of 

 willow and poplar, near open places, and especially the water-side in winter, 

 and in summer seek more retired places for breeding. Their crops, when 

 opened, were always found to contain the hearts of the buds of poplars, with 

 the external coverings carefully rejected, and were never found to include 

 anything else. Mr. Dall noticed no song, only a twitter and a long chirp. He 

 found them excellent as an article of food. European eggs of this bird, taken 

 by yiv. Wolley in Finland in 1858, are of an oblong-oval shape, and have a 

 light slate-colored ground with a marked tinge of greenish, broadly marked 

 and plashed with faint, subdued cloudy patches of browiiish-pur])le, and spar- 

 ingly spotted, chiefly at the larger end, with blackish-brown and dark purple. 

 They measure 1.02 inches in length by .70 in breadth. 



No positively identified eggs of the American Pine Grosbeak are as 

 yet known in collections, but Mr. Boardman has found a nest, near Calais, 

 about wdiicli there can be little doubt, although the parent was not seen. 

 This was placed in an alder-bush in a wet meadow, and was about four 

 feet from the ground. It w^s composed entirely of coarse green mosses. 

 The eggs were two, and were not distinguishable I'rom those of the 

 European cnuclcator. 



Genus PYRRHULA, Pallas. 



Pyrrhula, " Brisson, Orn. 1760." Palla.s. 



Gex. Char. Bill very short and thick, hiti'her than long, swollen. Lower jaw broader 

 at base than upper jaw, and broader than length of gonys. Nostrils and base of mandible 

 concealed by a thick tuft of rather soft feathers. Tail nearly even, shorter than the 

 pointed wings ; upper coverts reaching over nearly two thirds the tail. Middle and hind 

 claws about equal. 



This genus is closely related to Pinicola, but has a more swollen and much 

 shorter bill, the lower jaw disproportionately larger, and wider than long along 

 gonys, instead of being about equal. The nasal tuft is thicker and more 

 feathery and less bristly than in Pinicola. The upper tail-coverts are much 



