FINCHES. 7,S 



of tlie field and {\\c wood - land, strong of winu 

 and animated in manner, while many of them are 

 eminent songsters. The)- feed on insects in sum- 

 mer, hut during the severe season a few stra\ 

 <eeds afford them a sui)|)ort, and some of them 

 are with us at every seascjn of the year. 



The Pine Grosbeak ( Pinicola enncleator) comes 

 to us in the fall, sometimes in numbers, some- 

 times only a stray wanderer calling softly from 

 the i^rove. This bird is nearlv as larc;e as 

 a Robin, carmine red, [)aler or whitish on the 

 belly, wings and tail dusky, the former with two 

 white cross - bars. Females gre\, marked with 

 brownish - yellow. In dull November daws, fift\ 

 of these forest beauties crowding on the c:one- 

 laden summit of a great s})ruce tree is one of 

 the most pleasing sights. They are generally so 

 tame that they are easih- approached, and their 

 soft voices and exceedingly gentle manners make 

 them the most attractive of forest vagrants. In 

 mid - winter they retire to the sheltered recesses 

 of the coniferous woods, feasting on the abundant 

 seeds, and enjoying the gentle music of their own 

 (\all - notes and ricli, IJnnet-like songs. In April 

 they are away to the wilds of the drear) North. 



