^°i8Q^^n Brewster on the Pine Grosbeak. 247 



approximation to the total number which we made two hundred 

 and twenty-five. There were perhaps twenty-five to forty more 

 scattered about on neighboring spruces and the roofs of houses. 



A part of the fiock was distributed over the sidewalks for a 

 distance of several rods, feeding on the fallen seeds. As we 

 advanced slowly the Grosbeaks flew between or alighted on the 

 wires of the low fence within arm's reach. One even attempted 

 to perch on my companion's shoulder, but he moved at the 

 critical moment and it glanced to one side. Over the fence 

 where most of the flock was feeding, the snow was so light and 

 feathery that the birds sank into it deeply and wallowed rather 

 than hopped from place to place. They appeared to enjoy this, 

 and often fluttered their wings in such a way as to scatter the 

 snow above and around them as bathing birds scatter drops of 

 water. Many flying down from the trees above struck the snow 

 with such force as to plump in quite up to their necks, when they 

 stood thus for half a minute or more. 



During the same day a flock of fully three hundred Grosbeaks 

 were reported from the Botanic Gardens, equally distant from 

 each of the two flocks described above ; if the birds were as 

 numerous in other parts of the city, Cambridge must have har- 

 bored several thousands. 



The next morning the great flock at the two ash trees had 

 decreased to a hundred birds, who were all on the ground finishing 

 the fallen seeds. They began leaving the place in small parties 

 while 1 was watching them, and at four o'clock that afternoon 

 only about twenty-five remained. 



On the 13th, I spent most of the forenoon in the cedar-grown 

 pastures which encircle the suburbs of Cambridge. I heard a 

 few Grosbeaks piping but could not find them. On examining 

 the cedar trees, I could not discover one that had more than a 

 few scattered berries. A report from Wellesley Hills, under date 

 of January 14, showed a similar departure of the Grosbeaks from 

 that region, and a like explanation, — the stripped condition of 

 the food-bearing trees. 



During their invasion of Cambridge the Grosbeaks seem to 

 have concentrated their attacks on the white ash trees, and to 

 have taken these successively, although the smaller flocks foraged 



