PASSERINE BIRDS. 95 



chamber they will climb uneasily around their cage, open their beaks and pant, thereby showing 

 how unbearable and injurious they find the heat of such an unwonted climate. Under favourable 

 circumstances they will live for a year in confinement ; but their plumage does not retain its beauty 

 after the first six months, turning yellow and losing its brilliancy. It is best to keep them, even during 

 the winter in an unwarmed room, or still better in a cage hung outside the house. In its native state 

 the Pine Grosbeak feeds upon the seeds of the fir-trees, which it picks out of the open cones or 

 gleans from the ground. It will also eat many kinds of seeds or berries, and looks upon green weeds 

 and' the buds of trees as dainties. Tame birds are fed with linseed, rapeseed, and juniper or 

 mountain-ash berries; they require a considerable quantity of food, as they are large eaters. It 

 would seem that in summer they live extensively upon insects, especially flies, and with these they 

 probably feed their young. 



We have but scanty knowledge of their manner of breeding. In one instance that came under 

 our notice, the nest was made in a privet-bush about four feet high. It was very lightly built, and 

 scarcely thicker than that of a hedge-sparrow, the outer wall being formed of dry stalks of plants, and 

 the interior lined with horsehair. The brood consisted of four eggs of a beautiful bright blue, tinted 

 at the broad end with reddish brown, and having a few chestnut-brown spots. In colour and marking 

 they much resemble those of the Cherry Hawfinch. Only the female sits upon the eggs, but during 

 her seclusion she is cheered by the song of her mate. 



THE CARMINE GROSBEAK. 

 The Carmine Grosbeaks {Erythrothorax) differ from the preceding principally by reason of the 

 smaller size, and consequently inferior strength of the beak, which is short, thick, somewhat bowed, 

 vaulted, and elevated slightly at the ridge, with a scarcely perceptible hook at the tip. The feet are 

 of moderate length and strong, the tail is tolerably strong and excised, the wings somewhat long in 

 proportion to the body, the third and fourth quills being the longest. The magnificent crimson 

 which forms the principal feature in the plumage of the adult male, distinguishes it from the female 

 and from the young birds, whose colour is a greyish brown, or brownish grey ; the males may be 

 numbered among the most beautiful birds of the Passerine order. 



THE ROSE BULLFINCH. 

 The Rose Bullfinch, or Rose Finch {Erythrothorax roseus) is seven inches long and ten and 

 a half broad. Its forehead is of a dazzling whiteness, and the rest of a brilliant carmine red ; the 

 wings are of the same colour, with two lighter stripes running over them ; the under part of the body 

 is also of a bright red. In the young male bird the plumage is of a reddish brownish grey, with dark 

 streaks, and upon the wings there are two clear reddish yellow stripes. The female resembles that cf 

 the linnet. Rose Bullfinches were' often seen by Radde upon the Bareja Mountains. During the 

 month of September they lived in small parties of from six to twelve birds, but in winter they only 

 flew about in pairs, and towards the spring disappeared entirely. Plantations of oaks or black birch- 

 trees are generally preferred by these birds to any other localities, though they are fond of frequenting 

 well-wooded valleys. About noon they separate and repose lazily and carelessly upon the branches ; 

 but during the forenoon, whilst seeking food, they are always active and on their guard against 

 danger. 



THE CARMINE BULLFINCH. 

 The Carmine Bullfinch, or Riband Finch {Erythrothorax erythrimis) is six inches long and 

 ten inches across the wings. The wing and tail feathers are deep brown, the upper part of the neck 



