PINE (iUOSHKAK. 91 



ami richly jittirod. Tho tint of thoir bronzy piumofl vftHofl from 

 deep croiiio niid ruHty oruiijio to tiiwiiy olivo, iind tho griiy iippoars 

 in Huvenil 8hH(h)H, wliilo houio individiwvlH hour crowns nnd runipH of 

 a ducidudly tawny tint. Tho iniuiaturo nialuH amnot ho distin- 

 gninhod from tho females. All thuso viiriutioH of pluinngo Hro 

 usiiivUy found iu h Houk, though Boldom are many of the highly- 

 colored maloH Huun together, luid in a huihU company not one may 

 appear. 



Those hirds come to U8 every year — como with tho snow flakes, 

 tor they aro winter viHitors «)nly — hut very often they keep under 

 cover of tho deeper forests and only the woodsmen see them. If 

 the storms to the nortliwjird luvve been especially severe, or food is 

 scarce, then tho pine grosbeaks come with increased nu'nbers, and 

 roaming from place to place in <piest of food swarm into tho settle- 

 mentH and feust upon the rich rod elusters the mountain ash carries 

 for just such hungry maws. The staple diet of these birds is fruit 

 in summer time, and fruit iind seeds in winter. 



Tho pine grosbeaks breed from tho lower fur coiuitries north- 

 ward — Nelson reporting them in inunbers iilong tho Alaskan rivers. 

 A few pairs, doubtlesa, summer farther southward every year, and 

 I should expect to find them on almost any of the Laurentian hills. 

 The only well-authenticated nest that has been taken was dis- 

 covered by Mr. Philip Cox on the Restigouche River, in New 

 Brunswick. One summer a few pairs were found by my friend 

 Banks in a thick grove overlooking the Kennebocacin River, near ISt. 

 John, but a prolonged search failed to reveal tho desired nest But 

 while hunting for the nest Banks and I were enabled to see some- 

 thing more of the bird's habits than their erratic winter movements 

 permit. In winter they are gentle and extremely confiding, never 

 bickering about the coveted mouthful, nor displaying any awkward 

 fear when passers-by stop to watch them. One winter's day I 

 walked into the midst of a flock that were gathering the berries 

 that had fallen on the crusted snow. They barely made room for 

 me to pass, and one bold fellow hopj)ed between my legs as I stood, 

 picking as he went. The birds Banks and I met in June were just 

 as tame and confiding, and just as gentle with one another as were 

 the wirier visitors. 



I had the good fortune to hear the male's love song on those 



