THE GROSBEAK BRANCH 87 
One of the three was a female, who was as 
tame as a domestic cat, and lived in the house 
four or five years. She was a fine singer, 
though never a loud one. She kept the family 
cats in their place by pecking at their toes when 
they came near, so they had respect for her. 
Another was a young singer who had his bill 
crossed, so that he could not feed himself. He 
was nearly dead for want of food when he was 
found. She fed him carefully and brought him 
up, though she had always to feed him herself. 
That is a good deal to do, for birds want to be 
fed very often. 
These birds who lived in a house, and were 
not taught by their parents, never gave the com- 
mon song of the species, but made up songs of 
their own. They lived several years with their 
friend, who was very fond of them. 
The rose-breasted grosbeak is one who puts 
on his gay colors only for the nesting season. 
When that is over, and he moults, and gets his 
new winter suit, it is mostly streaked brown like 
his mate’s. The rosy patch is very small, and 
mixed with brown, so the effect is dull. In the 
spring he moults the body feathers, and comes 
out again with his brilliant rose colors. 
The bird who takes the place of the rose- 
