PASSERES — FRINGILLID^, 155 



south. Lately it has appeared at London, Ontario. Clear- 

 ly it is extending its range from year to year. With more 

 thorough protection it will soon become one of our most 

 familiar birds. 



This large, strong beaked bird is made for a diet of seeds 

 which most other sparrows could not crush. I sometimes 

 wonder what the birds which apparently spend all their time 

 in towns and villages find to eat there. But there are al- 

 ways gardens with more weeds than vegetables. Weed 

 seeds must form a large proportion of its food, with a small 

 proportion of insects and fruit. I have yet to hear com- 

 plaints about the destructiveness of this brilliant plumaged 

 bird. Its loud, clear whistled calls and song are familiar 

 to most persons, whether they go into the woods or not. 



Away from towns and villages the birds are thicket 

 haunters. They are often more numerous along the courses 

 of streams than elsewhere, especially during the winter. 



315. (595.) Zamelodia ludoviciana (Linn.). 111. 

 Rose-breasted Grosbeak. 



Synonyms: Goniaphea ludoviciana, Fringilla ludoviciana, Coc- 

 cothraustes ludoviciana, Guiraca ludoviciana, Hedy- 

 meles ludoviciana, Habia ludoviciana. 



Rose-breasted Song Grosbeak, Rose-breast, Redbreast, Red- 

 breasted Song Grosbeak, Red-breasted Grosbeak, Potato- 

 bug Bird. 

 Audubon, Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 166. 



The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is hardly common as a mi- 

 grant in the southern half of the state. It is a summer 

 resident in the northern half, but is rare as far south as 

 Columbus, and not common at the lake shore. It is not 

 infrequently seen among the shade trees bordering village 

 streets, and may nest in the parks if not persecuted. Its 

 favorite nesting-place is a woods in which there are patches 

 of second growth or large bushes. Briar patches and 

 brushy tangles do not seem to offer many inducements. 



The "gross" beak is adapted for crushing strong seeds, 

 upon which it feeds to a large extent. It is also accused of 

 eating ripe fruit. I have seen it eating the buds from 



