ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. o^J 



ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK.* {Loxia rosea.) 



PLATE XVII.— Fig. 2. 



Loxia Ludoviciana, Turton, Syst.— Red-breasted Grosbeak, Arct. Zool. p. 350, 

 No. 212.— Red-breasted Finch, Id. 372, No. 245.— Le Rose gorge, Buff. iii. 

 460. — Gros bee de la Louisiane, PL enl. 153, fig. 2. — Lath. ii. 126. — Peale's 

 Museum, No. 5806, male ; 5807, female ; 5806 A, male of one year old. 



G UIRA CA LUDO VI CI AN A. — Swainson. 



Fringilla (subgenus Coccothraustes) Ludoviciana, Bonap. Si/nop. p. 113. — Cocco- 

 thraustes (Guiraca) Ludoviciana, North. Zool. i. p. 271. 



This elegant species is rarely found in the lower parts of 

 Pennsylvania ; in the State of New York, and those of New 

 England, it is more frequently observed, particularly in fall, 

 when the berries of the sour gum are ripe, on the kernels 



by Wilson. Little seems to be known of tbeir summer haunts ; and, 

 indeed, the more northern species remain in the same obscurity. They 

 generally all migrate, go north to breed, and winter in southern latitudes. 

 The species of Great Britain and Europe performs a like migration, 

 assembling in very large flocks during winter, feeding upon seeds, &c, and 

 retiring north to breed. A few pairs, not performing the migration to 

 its utmost northern extent, breed in the larger pine woods in the High- 

 lands of Scotland. In 1829, they were met with in June in a large fir 

 wood at Killin, evidently breeding ; last year they were known to breed 

 in an extensive wood at New Abbey, in Galloway. In their winter 

 migrations they are not regular, particular districts being visited by them 

 at uncertain periods. In Annandale, Dumfriesshire, they were always 

 accounted rare, and the first pair I ever saw there was shot in 1827. 

 Early in October, as the winter advanced, very large flocks arrived, and 

 fed chiefly upon the ragweed, and under some large beech trees, turning 

 over the fallen mast, and eating part of the kernels, as well as any seeds 

 they could find among them. In 1828, they again appeared ; but in 

 1829, not one was seen ; and the present winter (1830), they are equally 

 wanting. The plate of our author is that of the bird in its winter dress. 

 As he justly observes, the plumage becomes much richer during the 

 season of incubation. The black parts become brighter and deeper, and 

 the olive of a yellower green. — Ed. 



* This species seems to have been described under various specific 

 names by various authors. AVilson, in the body of his work, calls it L. 

 rosea ; but he corrects that name afterwards in the index, and restores 



