THE BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. 



{Habia melanocephala.) 



The Black-headed Grosbeak may be 

 considered the western representative of 

 the rose-breasted species of the eastern 

 United States. Its range extends from 

 British Columbia and Montana, south- 

 ward into Mexico and Lower California. 

 Throughout the larger portion of this 

 district, it is quite common. "It appears 

 to shun the pine woods, preferring ra- 

 vines wooded with deciduous trees and 

 upgrown to shrubbery, as well as the 

 thick willow-copses that fringe the 

 mountain streams." On the mountain 

 sides, it seldom ventures higher than 

 eight thousand feet. 



In its flight, feeding habits and, in 

 fact, in all its actions, it closely resembles 

 its rose-breasted relative. It does not 

 fly high, and during the breeding season 

 the birds, as a rule, do not associate with 

 each other to any great extent. In the 

 fall, however, they gather in small flocks. 

 Many people say that the rose-breasted 

 grosbeak is the most beautiful singer of 

 all the birds that frequent the eastern 

 States. Of that bird's song Mr. Chap- 

 man has said : "There is an exquisite 

 purity in the joyous carol of the Gros- 

 beak ; his song tells of all the gladness 

 of a May morning; I have heard few 

 happier strains of bird music." The song 

 of the Black-headed Grosbeak very 



closely resembles that of the eastern 

 species, except that it lacks some of the 

 variety which is apparent in the latter's 

 sweet-toned voice. The song of both 

 species is often compared to that of the 

 robin. The comparison must stop, how- 

 ever, with the consideration of the mu- 

 sical annotation of the two songs. The 

 Grosbeak's song has "a mellowness 

 about it, and running through it is 'a 

 rich undertone,' which should charm 

 every listener." It is this undertone, this 

 depth of expression, that gives a char- 

 acter to the Grosbeak's song that is not 

 present in that of the robin. One writer 

 has said : "In the coast mountains in 

 May their music is delightful, the males 

 vying with each other from the tops of 

 the trees, and making the hills fairly ring 

 with their melody." 



The nests are usually built in low de- 

 ciduous trees or occasionally in shrubs. 

 They consist of twigs, herbaceaus stems, 

 and bark fibers very loosely woven to- 

 gether and lined with fine roots, grass 

 and hair. 



Our illustration is that of the male, 

 whose bearing is always both dignified 

 and attractive. In life, "his body looks 

 graceful as he sits upon his perch, sing- 

 ing his love-song, like a master-bird as 

 well as a master musician." 



OUR NEIGHBORS. 



Swallows have builded a home in the barn, 



Robins nest in the sweet apple tree, 

 Peewees dwell happily under the porch — 



Who has better neighbors than we? 



Mary M. Currier. 



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