PINE GROSBEAK. ]g| 



me the following notice, which I trust will prove as interesting to you as it 

 has been to me. Last winter the snow was exceedingly deep, and the 

 storms so frequent and violent that many birds must have perished in con- 

 sequence of the scarcity of food. The Pine Grosbeaks being driven from 

 the woods, collected about the barns in great numbers, and even in the 

 streets of Pictou they frequently alighted in search of food. A pair of these 

 birds which had been recently taken were brought me by a friend, but they 

 were in such a poor emaciated condition, that I almost despaired of being 

 able to preserve them alive. Being anxious, however, to note for you the 

 changes of their plumage, I determined to make the attempt; but notwith- 

 standing all my care, they died a few days after they came into my pos- 

 session. Shortly after, I received a male in splendid plumage, but so 

 emaciated that he seemed little else than a mass of feathers. By more 

 cautious feeding, however, he soon regained his flesh, and became so tame as 

 to eat from my hand without the least appearance of fear. To reconcile him 

 .gradually to confinement, he was permitted to fly about my bedroom, and 

 upon rising in the morning, the first thing I did was to give him a small 

 quantity of seed. But three mornings in succession I happened to lie rather 

 later than usual, and each morning I was aroused by the bird fluttering upon 

 my shoulder, and calling for his usual allowance. The third morning, I 

 allowed him to flutter about me some time before shewing any symptom of 

 being awake, but he no sooner observed that his object was effected than he 

 retired to the window and waited patiently until I arose. As the spring 

 approached, he used to whistle occasionally in the morning, and his notes, 

 like those of his relative the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, were exceedingly rich 

 and full. About the time, however, when the species began to remove to 

 the north, his former familiarity entirely disappeared. During the day he 

 never rested a moment, but continued to run from one side of the window 

 to the other, seeking a way of escape, and frequently during the night, when 

 the moonlight would fall upon the window, I was awakened by him dashing 

 against the glass. The desire of liberty seemed at last to absorb every other 

 feeling, and during four days I could not detect the least diminution in the 

 quantity of his food, while at the same time he filled the house with a piteous 

 wailing cry, which no person could hear without feeling for the poor captive. 

 Unable to resist his appeals, I gave him his release; but when this was 

 attained he seemed very careless of availing himself of it. Having perched 

 upon the top of a tree in front of the house, he arranged his feathers, and 

 looked about him for a short time. He then alighted by the door, and I was 

 at last obliged to drive him away, lest some accident should befall him. 



"These birds are subject to a curious disease, which I have never seen in 

 any other. Irregularly shaped whitish masses are formed upon the legs and 



Vol. III. 31 



