184 BIRDS OF THE GRAND PRE REGION. TUFTS. 



.515. Pinicola enudeator leucura (Miill.). Pine Grosbeak; 

 "Winter Robin." — Permanent resident, apparently- 

 becoming more uncommon. Found chiefly about 

 our evergreen woods in the southern part of the 

 county. Two nests were found by H. F. Tufts 

 about the middle of June in small coniferous trees. 

 Until -recent years it was believed to nest, like the 

 Crossbills, during the winter season. About 1890 

 it was a common sight during the winter months 

 to see small flocks of Pine Grosbeaks about the 

 town feeding on the seeds of the ash tree. They 

 were exceedingly tame, and attracted much atten- 

 tion. Since 1898 I have not seen them at all about 

 town, but have made all my observations in the 

 heavy woods. This winter (1917), however, I 

 have observed a few specimens about our orchards 

 feeding on the eggs of the canker-worm. 



517. Carpodacus purpureus purpureus (Gmel.). Purple 

 Finch: "Red Linnet." — Common summer resident, 

 occasionally seen in winter. Frequents our orchards, 

 open woodlands and hedges. Nests about last 

 of May, generally in coniferous trees. 



. Passer domesticus domesticus (Linn.). House or Eng- 

 lish Sparrow. — Abundant resident. An intro- 

 duced species. The House Sparrow was introduced 

 into this district by D. R. Eaton in 1878. Mr. 

 Eaton, who was at that time one of the most pro- 

 gressive farmers and orchardists in Cornwallis, 

 Kings Co., brought one or more pairs of the birds 

 from Cambridge, Mass., hopefullj^ anticipating 

 that they and their progeny would prey upon a 

 certain insect pest which was causing the farmers 

 of the region much loss through damaged crops. 



