202 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITL'TE. 



Williams mentioned some interesting facts that liad come under his 

 oljservation, which proved the bird to be a liabitual borer for sap. 

 Mr. Thompson cited another similar instance and referred to the fact 

 that the species arrived in the spring when the sap began to move. 

 Dr. Brodie believed that the bird would occasionally l>e found winter- 

 ing here, and read numerous records of gizzard contents to show that 

 the bird did not subsist on the inner bark of trees, but that it was an 

 omnivorous feeder like the Colaptes auratus. Mr. Williams promised 

 to present his observation on paper at a future meeting. — The 

 Secretary. 



144. After the handing in of reports, Mr. Williams exhibited 

 specimens of the Pine Grosbeak [Pinicola enudeator). Mr. Thompson 

 referred to their feeding on the scale-like seeds of Conifers, and re- 

 mai'ked that there were several competitors for this class of food in 

 the winter, and that three distinct forms of beak were adapted for 

 extracting the seeds from the cone — these three are rej)resented by 

 the beaks of Pinicola enudeator, Spinus pinus, Loxia curvirostra 

 The first secui-es the coveted moi-sels by main force, being a remarkably 

 massive, strong bill ; the second the Pine Linnet's, is an exceedingly 

 shaxi^ pointed probe-like forceps, adapted for insertion between the 

 scales ; but the last, the bill of the Crossbill, though so odd-looking, 

 is the most pei'fect instiniment of all, and by its help the scales are 

 bent outwards and the seed extracted with remarkable celerity. 



