KOSE-BEEASTED GROSBEAK. 



GONIAPHEA LUDOVICIANA. 



I HAVE had several interviews with this bird in dif- 

 ferent states, but never when prepared to take more 

 than his key-note ; so I give his song mostly from mem- 

 ory, feeling confident, however, of the accuracy of the 

 main features and the spirit of it. 



The black and white dress of the grosbeak, his breast 

 adorned with a brilliant rose star, instantly attracts the 

 eye ; and his loud, ringing song as surely arrests the ear. 

 He sings rapidly and energetically, as if in a hurry to be 

 through and off. No bird sings with more ardor. While 

 on paper his song resembles the robin's, and the key of 

 E flat major and its relative minor are common to both, 

 the voice and delivery are very unlike the robin's. 



Loud and rapid. 



