THE FINCHES 



1571 



Scarlet 



Grosbeak 



A common bird in the north of Europe is the scarlet grosbeak or 

 rosefinch ( Carpodacus erythrinus] , regarding which Dr. Taczanowski, 

 after mentioning that they only come to Poland to breed, observes that 

 " they first appear generally about the fifteenth of May, and after a few days they 

 are found at their regular nesting places. They arrive singly, and take up their 

 habitation in the bushes near water in the middle of fields and marshes; nowhere 

 numerous, they are generally rather rare. The males announce their arrival by a 

 characteristic song which is easily recognized even at a great distance. They are 

 very restless, whereas the female on the other hand is quiet. When singing, the 



SCARLET AND SIBERIAN GROSBEAKS. 

 (One-half natural size.) 



male generally perches on top of a tree or bush, always in full view, and during the 

 short intervals of the song utters a deep, clear whistle which may be rendered as 

 follows tin tiufi tin, tin, tiufi tin tin; after having repeated this about ten times, 

 it descends among the branches and searches after food. While thus engaged it 

 sometimes warbles in a very low tone. After about a quarter of an hour of repose it 

 reappears in full view and recommences its song. In singing, it raises the feathers 

 of its crown and throat, and in the sun looks much more beautiful than it really is. 

 The food consists chiefly of the various seeds of trees and bushes, tender buds, etc. 

 They seldom feed on seeds of plants, but sometimes they resort to the fields to pick 



