199 



appears from the North about the first of November (16, 1874; 9, 1878 

 [W. C. Osborn]), and retires about the first of April (March 31, 1873, 

 28, 1877). I have witnessed many deeds of daring on the part of this 

 remarkably handsome, though bloodthirsty bird ; but its temerity and 

 rapacious exploits have been so often described, that I will only men- 

 tion one occurrence the last noted in my journal: "When walking 

 upon the Railroad, near Garrisons, I started a Snowbird (Junco hyema- 

 lis*) from the track, a few paces in advance. A Shrike instantly dashed 

 down from the ledge above in hot pursuit. The Snowbird made every 

 effort to escape, doubling and twisting, and crying most piteously as 

 it endeavored to elude its adversary by dashing into a clump of hem- 

 locks that seemed to offer protection ; but the Butcher-bird followed 

 closely all of its windings, till at last the terrified creature flew on top 

 of the ledge, followed closely by its enemy. I did not witness the 

 result, but have no doubt that it ended in a tragedy." Such incidents 

 are familiar to all who have made the Shrike's acquaintance ; and, very 

 likely, it was on just such an occasion that the reader was first intro- 

 duced to this fierce little butcher, who is so devoid of fear of man, 

 when in quest of game. 



Dimensions. Average measurements of three females : length, 10-07 ; 

 stretch, 14-05; wing, 4-41; tail, 3-43; culmeu, -71; bill from nostril, 

 55; gape, 1^10: tarsus, 1-03; middle toe, -61; its claw, -28. 



Family, PRINGILLID2E3. 



68. Pinicola enucleator, var. canadensis, (Brisson). PINE 

 GROSBEAK. An irregular winter visitant ; sometimes abundant. 



This beautiful species wanders southward at irregular intervals, 

 and only visits us during the coldest winter weather. It usually ap- 

 pears in large flocks, which are composed principally of females and 

 young birds. The red males are seldom seen. I first saw the Pine 

 Grosbeak on November 22, 1874, when a large flock alighted upon a 

 Norway spruce (Abies excelsa) before my house, and commenced to 

 feed upon the seeds of the cones. All were adult males, and presented 

 a very beautiful appearance. The species was not again met with 

 until the first of December, when large numbers were present. It 

 continued to be plentiful until the following March ; and some stayed 

 as late as March 25. The males in red plumage were not more than 

 two per cent, of any of the numerous flocks that I examined during 

 the winter, with the single exception of the one first seen, which, sin- 

 gularly enough, was composed entirely of old males. 



During the winter of 1875-76, Pine Grosbeaks were seen twice. I 

 saw two flying over lona Island, on December 11, 1875; and, on Janu- 

 ary 12, 1876, I shot three specimens from a small flock found feeding 

 upon sumach berries and seeds of hemlock spruce (Abies canadensis), 

 near Fort Montgomery. 



