FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 347 



ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK 



One of the handsomest of our common North Amer- 

 ican songsters, the male Rose-hreasted Grosbeak may be 

 readily identified by the bright rose-colored blotch on the 

 breast. The same tone may be found on the under side of 

 the wing in both sexes, but this is not clearly seen, and 

 cannot be considered a sure field mark. The birds occur 

 from the Atlantic west to the Great Plains and north into 

 southern Canada. Shrubbery along streams or low sap- 

 lings are favorite resorts for the grosbeak during the spring 

 and summer months. 



The beautiful rose-breasted grosbeak breeds in the 

 northern half of the United States east of the Missouri 

 River, but spends its winters beyond our boundaries. The 

 beauty of the adult male is proverbial ; the plumage is pure 

 black and white, with a broad patch of brilliant rose color 

 upon the breast and under each wing. 



These birds are of vast importance to the agriculturist, 

 as they destroy Colorado potato bugs, which so few of our 

 birds will eat. When these beetles first swept over the 

 land, and naturalists and farmers were anxious to discover 

 whether there were any enemies to prey upon the pest, the 

 grosbeak was almost the only bird seen to eat them. This 

 favorite bird also destroys many other noxious insects. 

 The vegetable food of the grosbeak consists of buds and 

 blossoms of forest trees, and seeds, but the only damage of 

 which it has been accused is the stealing of green peas. 

 The writer has observed it eating peas, and has examined 



