52 American Birds 



the grosbeak seemed to have a way of dividing duties 

 equally and alternating with days of rest and labor. 



The grosbeak family stayed about the thicket for over 

 two weeks. I saw the babies when they were almost full- 

 grown birds and watched them follow their parents about. 

 They were able to find bugs and feed themselves, but each 

 child knew it was easier to be fed than to go about looking 

 under every twig and leaf. One juvenile flew up to the 

 limb beside his father, quivering his wings and begging 

 for a bite. His father straightened back and looked at 

 him with an air of inquiry, " Why don't you hunt for 

 yourself? " The little fellow turned his back as if in 

 shame, but he kept on crying. The father flew into the 

 next tree; the little beggar followed and squatted right 

 beside him as if he half expected a trouncing. I looked 

 to see him get it. The father turned and fed him. He 

 couldn't resist. In some ways children are the same, and 

 bird papas are, perhaps, a good deal like human papas. 



THE GROSBEAK FAMILY 



The Grosbeak is a seed-eater and is related to the sparrow family. 

 It is about eight inches in length and has the build of a sparrow, but it is 

 an abnormal sparrow, because of its immensely thickened bill. The 

 Grosbeak is a good singer, with a finely colored dress. 



Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Zamelodia ludoviciana): Male, head and 

 upper parts, black, except for white rump and white markings on wings 

 and tail; breast and under wings, rosy red; bill, white. Female, brownish 

 color, no rosy tint on breast; yellow under wings; heavy brown bill. 

 Found in eastern United States and southern Canada, from the first of 

 May till the middle of September. Nest in bushes and low trees, thin 

 and saucer-shaped, made of wiry roots. Eggs, from three to five, dull 

 green with dark brown spots and specks. 



