FUINGII.LIN.^-:. 



19T 



"vSiV'"'^ '*' 



THE PINE-GROSBEAK. 



PvRRHULA ENUCLEATOK (Linna^us;. 



The Pine-Grosbeak is, at most, an exceedingly rare visitor to the 

 British Islands, and although some five-and-twenty so-called ' occur- 

 rences ' are on record, critical examination by Mr. J. H. Gurney 

 jun. (Zool. 1S87, pp. 242-250), and 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. The specimens still existing are undoubtedly authentic, 

 but the unsatisfactory nature of the evidence of their having been 

 obtained in a wild state in this country will hardly be credited by 

 those who have not read Mr. Gurney's paper. If, as he observes, 

 the Pine-Grosbeak were now to be installed for the first time as 

 a British bird, the evidence would scarcely warrant such a step ; but, 

 all things considered, I do not feel justified in summarily rejecting 

 a bird which has for so long occupied a place in our list. 



Even in Heligoland, that wonderful resting-place for waifs, and 

 so much nearer its home, the Pine-Grosbeak has only once been 

 obtained ; it is a rare winter-visitor to Denmark, and its occurrences, 

 even in the suitable conifer-woods of North-eastern (Germany, 



