242 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



Pinicola emideator, Cabanis. 



The Pine Grosbeak is but an occasional visitant 

 in Pennsylvania, and then only during the winter; 

 driven by necessity, doubtless, from its more 

 northern habitat it reaches this latitude about the 

 beginning of December. It is a denizen of dense 

 pine forests during the cold weather, which it for- 

 sakes in the Spring for our apple and pear 

 .orchards, where it commits an immense amount 

 of mischief by the destruction of the buds. It is 

 very unsuspecting and familiar. Like many other 

 species whose history we have delineated, this one 

 is a solitary feeder. Though chiefly arboreal, it 

 occasionally descends to the ground and forages 

 among the fallen leaves for the seeds of various 

 species of Pinus and grasses, and the beetle's 

 which seek cover under such warm substances. 



The following articles contribute slightly to its 

 maintenance during the prevalence of winter: 

 The seeds of the various species of Pinus, as Pinus 

 strobus, P. inops, P. rigida, Abies nigra, A. cand- 

 dcnsis, Betid a c.rcclsa, and the berries 'of Juniperus 

 Virginiana, J. communis, Lonicera periclymenum, 

 and others. Besides the eggs, pupae, and imagos 

 of Cr atony chus cinereus, C.pertinax, Pangus caligi- 

 nosus, and other coleoptera. Early in .the spring 

 the buds of Acer rubrum, A. saccharinum, and the 

 tender cones of the various species of Pimis, with 

 Harpalus compar, H. pensylvauicus, Bostruhus 

 pint, and Chrysomela c<zruleipennis. 



