Birds of Britain 



in spring they turn their attention to young buds, more 

 especially those of fruit-trees. For this they may well be 

 forgiven as they make ample compensation by destroying 

 caterpillars innumerable during the summer months. 



The male has the whole of the head a glossy blue-black 

 mantle brownish grey. Larger wing coverts black tipped 

 with whitish to form a conspicuous bar. Primaries brown ; 

 secondaries and tail glossy black ; rump white. The whole 

 of the under parts bright brick-red turning to white on the 

 vent. The female is duller and the under parts are of a 

 uniform brown. The young resemble the hen but lack the 

 black crown. Length 6 in.; wing 3'25 in. 



This species is generally distributed throughout the 

 wooded districts of England, Wales, and Ireland, but is rather 

 more local in Scotland. 



THE SCARLET GROSBEAK 



Pyrrhula erythina (Pallas) 



The Scarlet Grosbeak breeds from Northern Russia 

 across Siberia to Kamchatka, and in winter it is chiefly 

 found in the Oriental region. As a straggler on migration, 

 however, it has visited many places in Europe to the west 

 of Eussia, and one or two examples have been obtained in 

 this country. 



The adult male has the greater part of its plumage rose 

 red, browner on the mantle and flanks. Quills and tail 

 dark brown with paler buffish margins. The female is olive 



136 



