FINCHES. 35 



of the field and the wood - land, strong of wing 

 and animated in manner, while many of them are 

 eminent songsters. They feed on insects in sum- 

 mer, but during the severe season a few stray 

 seeds afford them a support, and some of them 

 are with us at every season of the year. 



The Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola eniicleator) comes 

 to us in the fall, sometimes in numbers, some- 

 times only a stray wanderer calling softly from 

 the grove. This bird is nearly as large as 

 a Robin, carmine red, paler or whitish on the 

 belly, wings and tail dusky, the former with two 

 white cross - bars. Females grey, marked with 

 brownish - yellow\ In dull November days, fifty 

 of these forest beauties crowding on the cone- 

 laden summit of a great spruce tree is one of 

 the most pleasing sights. They are generally so 

 tame that they are easily approached, and their 

 soft voices and exceedingly gentle manners make 

 them the most attractive of forest vagrants. In 

 mid - winter they retire to the sheltered recesses 

 of the coniferous woods, feasting on the abundant 

 seeds, and enjoying the gentle music of their own 

 call -notes and rich, Linnet -like songs. In April 

 they are away to the wilds of the dreary North. 



