Auk 



54 Allen, Nesting of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. [j"^ 



this species and which is, I think, generally if not always more 

 prolonged than the ordinary song. It began with three or four 

 repetitions of a phrase like ti'wee and concluded with a warble. 

 The female kicked a good deal on the nest, but for some time I did 

 not hear what I have called the "crooning" notes. 



On the afternoon of June 14 I watched the nest for a time from 

 the ground below and at a short distance. 



At 2.20 the male sang at the nest and was relieved by the female. 

 At 2.33 the female called ee ee ee (the "crooning" note) and was 

 relieved by the male. 

 At 2.42 the male sang. 



At 2.43 he sang again and was relieved by the female. The male 

 called ee ee ee as he flew off. I think this was the only time I heard 

 this note uttered by the male. 



At 3.07 the female flew off with ee ee ee. Probably the male 

 approached the nest at the same time and without my seeing him 

 from where I sat, for, after waiting some time for him to appear, 

 I went to the upper veranda and from there could see him perched 

 on the edge of the nest, shading it with wings half spread. This 

 was at 3.29. 



At 3.34 the male sang and was promptly relieved by the female. 

 A single ee was uttered by one of them. The female at once began 

 feeding young, and this was the first intimation I had had that the 

 young had hatched. They must have hatched that day, for on the 

 day before, and I think on the morning of that day (June 14), the 

 parents appeared to be still sitting. 



On June 18 I noted that the young, of which there were three, 

 were covered, or partly covered, with a whitish down which stood 

 out from the body and up from the top of the head. They had a 

 fine, high, rather sweet hu'ee with a slightly husky quality, which 

 they uttered while being fed. I have heard this same note, but 

 louder, uttered by a fully fledged bird, possibly an adult female 

 (July 29, 1908). 



On June 20 the note of the young was louder and usually a plain, 

 unmodulated hu, though occasionally there was a suggestion of 

 the rise in pitch at the end. Once or twice I heard a quavering 

 hu' wl-ivi. The young then cried before the mother came to the 

 nest as well as while being fed. The female took the entire care of 



