GROSBEAK. 275 



the female not greatly inferior to the male in respect to song ; is 

 rarely raised from the nest, for if the old ones are taken in nets, 

 or traps, uninjured, they soon grow familiar. Mr. Abbot informs me, 

 that having caught one in a trap, the bird ate food out of his hand 

 in an hour afterwards ; is fond of maize and buck-wheat ; it is said 

 by some, that this bird will collect a great hoard of both, to the 

 quantity even of a bushel, which it artfully covers with leaves and 

 twigs, leaving a small hole for entrance : others, however, have 

 doubted the circumstance, rather supposing these hoards to have 

 been got together by some small quadrupeds, as mice, &c. It is 

 also said to be fond of bees, and other insects. Generally comes into 

 New York, and the Jerseys, the beginning of April ; frequents the 

 Magnolia Swamps during the summer, departing towards Carolina 

 in autumn : although pretty numerous, it is not gregarious, rarely 

 more than three or four being met with together: remains in Georgia 

 and Pennsylvania the whole year ; builds in the bushes, frequently 

 in the holly; makes a deep, round nest, of dried leaves, bark of the 

 wild grape, and sometimes fine twigs, lined with dry grass ; the eggs, 

 usually four in number, reddish white, marked with ferruginous red 

 spots all over, but most numerous, and several confluent, at the 

 larger end. Attempts have been made to breed these birds in 

 confinement, but only with partial success. Mr. Tunstall had a pair, 

 which built a nest in an orange tree, placed in an aviary, and eggs 

 were laid ; but whilst the hen was sitting, a high wind blew down 

 the nest, and the eggs were broken ; young birds were, however, 

 found in them. There is also another instance on record, but I have 

 not heard whether the young birds were brought to perfection. 



A. — Loxia Carlsoni, Gm. Lin. i. 847. Baud. ii. 376. Var. Spaloivsk. i. t. 26. 

 Cardinalis, Mus. Carls. Fasc. ii. t. 41. 



In this Variety the head feathers are not elongated into a crest; 



ad eh 



N h-2 



and instead of the whole face and chin being black, the chin alone 



