THE



81



Aviceltural Magazine,


BEING THE JOURNAL OF

THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY.


Third Series .— Vol. VI. — No. 3. —All rights reserved. JANUARY, 1915.


THE ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK.


(Hechjmeles ludovicianus).


By Hubert D. Astley.


An account of mine was published in the Magazine in Sept¬

ember, 1911, Vol. II., 3rd Series, pp. 333, etc., of a pair of these

Grosbeaks which nested in my bird-room, but as this species has

not been illustrated I am taking advantage of the courtesy of the

Editor of Bird Lore to have a coloured plate reproduced and to write

a little more about one of the handsomest of the Grosbeak family.

Indeed, the male can hold bis own amongst a collection of many

species when in his breeding plumage, with his mixture of black,

white, and crimson.


The great ornithologist, Audubon, has written of the Bose¬

breasted Grosbeak, as follows :—-


“ One year, in the month of August, I was trudging along the

“ shores of the Mohawk River, when night overtook me. Being

“little acquainted with that part of the country, I resolved to camp

“ where I was, the evening was calm and beautiful, the sky sparkled

“with stars, which were reflected by the smooth waters, and the

“ deep shade of the rocks and trees of the opposite shore fell on the

“bosom of the stream, while gently from afar came on the ear the

“ muttering sound of the cataract.”


“ My little fire was soon lighted under a rock, and spreading

“out my scanty stock of provisions, I reclined on my grassy couch

... I closed my eyes and was passing away into the world

“ of dreaming existence, when suddenly there burst on my soul the



