34 



PINE GROSBEAK-RUSTY-CROWNED FALCON. 



country, returning to settle upon the same trees in the evening. 

 They are ve^r social, living in pairs in the breeding season ; but 

 even during that period, will sometimes associate in considerable 

 numbers. Their nests are made among the branches of fir-trees, 

 and there they disport themselves gayly, climing nimbly, and 

 assisting their movements, as parrots do, with their beaks. They 

 will hang for minutes together head downward, clinging to a twig 

 or cone, seeming to enjoy this apparently uncomfortable position. 

 Their movements, when on the wing, are undulating and rapid, 

 but they never fly to any great distance. The pleasure they ex- 

 perience in the society of their mate is often testified by fluttering 

 over the tops of the trees as they sing, after which they hover for 

 a time, and then descend slowly to thei r perch. In the daytime 

 they are generally in motion, with the exception of a short time at 

 noon. During the spring, summer, and autumn, they pass their 

 time in flying from one plantation or mountain to another. In 

 winter, if the cold is extreme, they remain much longer in their 

 sleeping-place, only coming abroad after the sun has warmed 

 the earth, though they commence their song early in the morn- 

 ing. At this season they make their first appearance about ten 

 o'clock, and are soon busily employed in search of food ; about 

 two o'clock they become quieter, seek food again at four o'clock, 

 and then go to roost. The Cross-bill troubles itself but little about 

 the other inhabitants of the woods, and is almost fearless of man, 

 whom it is very evident it has not learnt to regard as an enemy. 

 Should a female be shot, its mate will remain sorrowfully perched 

 upon the branch from which his little companion has fallen, or 

 again and again visit the spot where she was killed, in the hope 

 of finding her; indeed, it is only after repeated proofs of the 

 treachery of mankind that he begins to testify any symptom of 

 shyness. When placed in a cage, the Cross-bills become exceed- 

 ingly tame, appearing entirely to forget the loss of their freedom, 

 and grow so fond of those they are with as to obey them in every- 

 thing, allowing themselves to be touched, or even carried about 

 the room on the hand, and demonstrating their confidence in a 

 variety of ways, so that the inhabitants of mountainous districts are 

 usually much attached to these gentle little creatures. 



The Pine Grosbeak. (Pinicola enucleator.) 



Fig. 9, Male. Fig. 10, Female. 



This species is an inhabitant of northern North America, and 

 appears generally in flocks, in the pine-woods, in the United States, 

 in winter ; and is also to be seen in the Sierra Nevada of Califor- 

 nia. When these birds first come among us they are harmless, 

 confiding creatures, who have not yet experienced the artifices of 

 man, never offering to stir if a stranger or hunter approach the 

 trees on which they are perched, and will stare at the gun destined 

 for their destruction, without thinking of flight, even should one 

 of their companions be shot down from the same branch. Persons 

 have tried successfully to catch them by means of snares fastened 

 to the end of poles, by the aid of which they could be thrown over 

 the heads of birds ; indeed, the clumsiest kind of trap is all that is 

 required to catch these unsuspicious little wanderers. The most 

 touching tales are told of the attachment of the Pine Grosbeak to 

 its mate. On one occasion, three out of a party of four had been 

 captured, when, to the astonishment of all, the fourth crept into 

 the net, in order to share the fate of its companions. It must not 

 be imagined, however, that these birds are really foolish ; for ex- 

 perience soon teaches them its lessons, and they become distrustful, 

 shy, and cautious. In its habits, the Pine Grosbeak often reminds 

 one of the Cross-bill. It is essentially a tree-bird, being quite at 

 home upon a branch, but uneasy and out of place on the ground. 

 It can climb skillfully from one bough to another, hopping with 

 ease to tolerably distant branches. Its flight is rapid, and, like 

 that of most Finches, rather undulating, and it hovers before perch- 



ing. Its voice is flute-like and expressive, resembling that of the 

 Bullfinch, and its song, which may be heard throughout the whole 

 of the winter, is very varied and pleasing, on account of its soft, 

 clear notes. In winter, we do not hear it in perfection, as it is then 

 low and disjointed ; but in spring, when the male rouses all his 

 energies to cheer his little mate, his tones would satisfy the most 

 fastidious critic. It sings during the clear light summer nights, 

 and on that account is called «* the Watchman." This bird has 

 many other good qualities, and, owing to its gentle, confiding tem- 

 perament, may be easily tamed, if properly treated. It becomes, 

 in a few days, accustomed to confinement, taking its food readily 

 from the hand, and will allow itself to be stroked, or even carried 

 about the room, all the time testifying its happiness and content. 

 It is an interesting sight to see a male and female bird in one cage, 

 for their tenderness toward each other is extreme ; but, alas ! in 

 one point they are deficient — they do not survive the loss of their 

 freedom for any considerable length of time, and pine away 

 rapidly, especially when their keepers forget that these children 

 of the North must have fresh, cold air, and foolishly confine them 

 in hot rooms. The length of this bird is about nine inches, three 

 of which belong to the tail ; the breadth across the wings varies 

 from thirteen to fourteen inches, and the wing measures four and a 

 half inches from the shoulder to the tip. 



PLATE XXXIX. 



The Sparrow Hawk, or Rusty-crowned Falcon. {Falco sj>arverius.) 



Fig. i, Male. Fig. 2, Female. 



This elegant and singularly marked little Hawk is at once 

 recognized by the smallness of its size and the peculiarity of its 

 plumage. They are a constant resident in almost every part of 

 the United States, and are particularly abundant in the Southern 

 States in winter, wandering in summer as far as the Rocky Moun- 

 tains. The nest is built in a hollow, shattered, or decayed tree, at 

 a considerable elevation ; the eggs are usually four or five in num- 

 ber, of a light brownish-yellow, and spotted with brown. 



This species is a frequent visitor to the farm-house and barn-yard, 

 where it is most commonly seen perched on some dead branch, or 

 on a pole or stalk in the fields, often "a little distance from the 

 ground, keeping up a constant agitation of the tail, and attentively 

 watching for the approach of some unlucky mouse or mole, or even 

 for beetles or grasshoppers, upon which it pounces with great 

 quickness, and immediately returns to its stand to devour it. When 

 changing its position, it flies low until within a few yards of the 

 spot upon which it wishes to settle, when it suddenly rises with an 

 easy curve and alights with the utmost grace, closing its wings 

 with the rapidity of thought. Sometimes a Sparrow or Finch 

 crosses its pathway, when the little Hawk, all anxiety to secure so 

 great a prize, at once gives chase, and soon overtaking it, bears it 

 off to share the dainty morsel with its mate and young. Instances 

 have been recorded in which this Hawk has been so eager in the 

 pursuit of its prey as to follow the victim even into a house or 

 wagon, and even going so far as to dart into a railway car when 

 in rapid motion, in order to secure its prize. In so much dread is 

 this formidable enemy held by the objects of its attack, that on its 

 approach some birds will throw themselves, as though dead, upon 

 the ground; others will make for their hiding-place with such 

 devious turnings from the direct path as baffle even the skillful 

 steering of their pursuer, and then dart into the inmost recesses 

 of some protecting bush, and thus place themselves for the time in 

 safety. "The Blue Jay," says Wilson, "has a particular antipathy 

 to this bird, and frequently insults it by following and imitating its 

 notes so exactly a3 to deceive even those well acquainted with both. 



