XV 



FINCHES 



PINE GROSBEAK 



Dec. 24, 1851. Saw also some pine grosbeaks, mag- 

 nificent winter birds, among the weeds and on the apple 

 trees ; like large catbirds at a distance, but, nearer at 

 hand, some of them, when they flit by, are seen to have 

 gorgeous heads, breasts, and rumps (?), with red or 

 crimson reflections, more beautiful than a steady bright 

 red would be. The note I heard, a rather faint and in- 

 nocent whistle of two bars. 



July 15, 1858. When half-way down the mountain,* 

 amid the spruce, we saw two pine grosbeaks, male and 

 female, close by the path, and looked for a nest, but 

 in vain. They were remarkably tame, and the male a 

 brilliant red orange, — neck, head, breast beneath, and 

 rump, — blackish wings and tail, with two white bars 

 on wings. (Female, yellowish.) The male flew nearer 

 inquisitively, uttering a low twitter, and perched fear- 

 lessly within four feet of us, eying us and pluming 

 himself and plucking and eating the leaves of the 

 Amelanchier oligocarpa on which he sat, for several 

 minutes. The female, meanwhile, was a rod off. They 

 were evidently breeding there. Yet neither Wilson nor 

 Nuttall speak of their breeding in the United States.- 



[/See also under General and Miscellaneous.] 



* [Mt. Lafayette.] 



2 [The pine grosbeak breeds very sparingly in the White Moautsin 



