FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 409 



tinged with rose. Im. <? in summer. Similar to ad. cf in summer but wing- 

 quills and some tail-feathers brownish as in 9 . The ad. winter plumage is 

 acquired at the next (first postnuptial) molt, and the ad. summer the follow- 

 ing spring. Ad. 9. Upperparts grayish brown, margined with cream- 

 buff and pale grayish brown; a buffy line through the center of the crown, 

 and a conspicuous whitish line over the eye ; wings and tail dark grayish 

 brown; wing-coverts tipped with white; under wing-coverts orange; under- 

 parts buffy, streaked with dark grayish Jbrown. L., 8' 12; W., 4'02; T., 

 2'99; B., '69. 



Range. E. N. Am. and n. S. A. Breeds in lower Canadian and Transi- 

 tion zones from s. cen. Mackenzie, n. Man., cen. Ont., s. Que. and Cape 

 Breton Is. s. to cen. Kans., cen. Mo., cen. Ohio, cen. N. J., and in mts. to 

 n. Ga. ; winters from s. Mex. to Ecuador; casual in migration in Cuba, 

 Jamaica, and the Bahamas; accidental in Ariz., Colo., and Calif. 



Washington, rather common T. V., May 1-30; Aug. 29-Oct 6. Ossining, 

 tolerably common S. R., May 3-Oct. 1. Cambridge, very common S. R., 

 May 10-Sept. 10. N. Ohio, common S. R., Apl. 27-Sept. 15. Glen Ellyn, 

 fairly common S. R., common T. V., Apl. 27-Sept. 28. SE. Minn., common 

 S. R., Apl. 27-Sept. 23. 



Nest, of fine twigs, weed stalks, and rootlets, in bushes or trees, 5-20 

 feet up. Eggs, 4-5, pale blue, with numerous olive-brown or rufous-brown 

 markings, *90 x '69. Date, Carmel, N. J., May 20; Cambridge, May 25; 

 se. Minn., May 21. 



Sometimes in passing through young second growths, and more 

 rarely densely undergrown woodland, I hear a singular kind of ques- 

 tioning call-note, not loud, but distinct a steely- peek, peek. It is a 

 signal to me to pause and look for its author; even a glimpse of him 

 is worth several minutes' waiting and watching. There is no mistaking 

 his black, white, and rose costume; but the identity of his more modestly 

 attired mate may long remain an open question. So little does she 

 resemble him that she might pass for an overgrown Sparrow with a 

 rather conspicuous whitish stripe over her eye. 



The song of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is generally compared to 

 that of the Robin, and musical annotation would doubtless show that 

 the comparison is not misleading. But the similarity is largely one of 

 form; in expression there is no more resemblance in their voices than 

 there is between the birds themselves. There is an exquisite purity in 

 the joyous carol of the Grosbeak; his song tells of all the gladness of 

 a May morning; I have heard few happier strains of bird music. With 

 those who are deaf to its message of good cheer I can only sympathize, 

 pitying the man whose heart does not leap with enthusiasm at the sight 

 of rival males dashing through the woods like winged meteors, leaving 

 in their wake a train of sparkling notes. 



The BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (596. Zamelodia melanocephald) , a 

 western species, has been recorded from Michigan. 



597. Guiraca caerulea cserulea (Linn.}. BLUE GROSBEAK. Ad. &. 

 Deep purplish blue; lores and chin black; back blackish; wings and tail 

 black, slightly edged with blue; middle wing-coverts widely, and greater 

 coverts narrowly tipped with chestnut-rufous. Ad. & in winter. Similar, 

 but widely margined with rusty brown, particularly on back. Im. & in 

 winter. Resembles the 9 . Im. & in summer. Plumage mottled brown and 

 blue. The ad. winter plumage is acquired at the next (first postnuptial) 



