has been undoubtedly captured "a-field" within our 

 boundaries, is a matter of infinitesimally small import- 

 ance, and in such cases as that of the present species we 

 can only argue from probability. On this ground I 

 hold the Pine-Grosbeak as a very unlikely bona fide 

 visitor to this country, whilst T am well aware that 

 many are imported, chiefly, as I believe, from Russia. 

 I only know this bird in captivity, and have found it as 

 a rule extraordinarily tame. The male has a clear and 

 pleasant warble, and the female also sings sweetly ; 

 I have noticed that whilst the male generally sings from 

 the top of a bush in our aviary, the female usually sits 

 upon the ground, or close to it on the brickwork, 

 within a few feet of her human visitors, especially in the 

 hottest sunlight that she can find, to regale us with her 

 music. The home of the Pine-Grosbeak in Europe is 

 in the pine-forests of the north, its favourite food the 

 seeds of various conifers, occasionally varied, according 

 to authors who are personally acquainted with it in 

 these districts, by insects. In captivity few seeds come 

 amiss to these charming birds. The Pine-Grosbeak is 

 said to inhabit the conifer-zone of the northern parts 

 of both the Old and the New World ; for details with 

 regard to habits, nest, and eggs, I must refer my 

 readers to the account given in the 4th ed. of * Yarrell,' 

 to which I have above referred. 



