PINE GROSBEAK. 



PiNICOLA ENUCLEATOR, 



Char. Male : grayish brown, darkest on the back, shading to ashy 

 on the rump, washed with rosy carmine, which is deepest on the crown 

 and rump ; wings and tail dusky, the wings with two white bands. Fe- 

 male and young : similar, but without the rosy coloring; head and rump 

 washed with pale olive bronze. Length 8^ to 9 inches. 



Nest. On the border of a swamp or the margin of a stream running 

 through an evergreen forest ; saddled on a low branch or in a crotch of 

 a low bush, or placed in a crevice of a rock. A bulky, ill-made affair 

 of moss, or twigs and roots or strips of bark, and lined with fine grass, 

 roots, or vegetable fibre. 



Eggs. 4-.''; pale greenish blue marked with dark brown and lilac; 

 1.05 X 0.75. 



These splendid and very hardy birds appear to dwell almost 

 wholly within the cold and Arctic regions of both continents, 

 whence, only in severe winters, a few migrate into Can- 

 ada and the United States, where they are consequently of 

 rare and uncertain occurrence. They have been seen in 

 winter in the lower part of Missouri, and at the same season, 

 occasionally, in the maritime parts of Massachusetts and Penn- 

 sylvania, and are observed to return to Hudson Bay as early as 

 April. According to Mr. Pennant, they frequent the woods of 

 pine and juniper, and are now possessed of musical talents; 



