i6S 



THE BLACK-HEADED GROSlftAK. 



stalks, lined, or not. with fine dead grasses ; set loosely in branches of bush or 

 sapling, (> to x> feet iii). iiggs: 4, greenish blue, Iwldly spotted or blotched with 

 reddish brown, dusky brown an<l lavender, most heavily alxiut larger encl. Av. 

 size i.<X)x/i8 ( J5.4 X 17.27). Scosmi: luist-siile. May 20; West-side, May 25; 

 one 1)11 'Oil. 



Authorities. — ? "I'riiu/ilUi tnclaiioccplnthi. .XudulMin, Orn. l>iog. I\'. 1838, 

 Sly; 1)1. \~\ (Col. Kiv. )": IJaird, 499. Cooper and Suckley, Rep. I'ac. R. R. 

 Surv. \\\. pt. II. i860, 206. T( ?). C&S. Rh. D'. Ra. 1>'. Ss^ J. H. E. 



Specimens. — I'. 1'.. E. 



TllOSM who complain of our lack of song-birds should make the 

 aci|uaiiilance of this really .skilled musician. He will not often be found 

 in the city parks, nor yet in the fir forests; but wherever there are deciduous 

 trees. iiMt too dense, or tall thickets of willow and alder beside some lake 

 or sluggish stream, there will this minstrel hold 

 forth. The (irosbeak's song is not unlike the 

 longer lay of the Robin, but it is richer and 

 rounder as well as more subdued. There is 



.-d)out it all a 

 lingering lan- 

 guor of the 

 Southland ; and 

 if the gentle- 

 man a<Idrcssed 

 you. you would 

 expect him to 

 s.\v "Sail." with 

 a .soft cadence. 

 The bird's 

 carol has the 

 rolling quality 

 which serves to 

 connect it with 

 that of the 

 eastern Rose- 

 breasted Grosbeak, but it is sweeter, more varied, and shows, if anything, 

 a still more strongly marked unrlertoiu' i>f li<|nid harmonics. 



The male Grosbeak is, moreover, an indefatigable singer. cluMsing for 

 his [)ur|Mise the to])most sprays of alder or Cottonwood, and taking |)ains 

 to give all intruders a wide berth during the concert hours. His attachment 

 to a given locality becomes apparent only after he has been pursued from 

 tree to tree in a wifle circuit which brings u]) at the original station. .\iul 



Tahtn in Ctattam County. 



Photo by the .Author. 



THE GROSBF..\K"S COXCKRT II.M.I.. 



