THE SCARLET GROSBEAK. 

 Pyrrhula erythrina (Pallas). 

 Plate 17. 



Of late years a good many examples of the Scarlet Grosbeak — till recently only 

 known as a very rare visitor to Great Britain — have been observed or obtained. 

 Its breeding grounds appear to be Russia, Siberia, and the mountainous parts of 

 Central Asia, whilst in winter it is found throughout a great portion of India and 

 China. 



The nest is placed in the forked branch of a bush, and is composed of dead 

 grass-stems and small roots, with a lining of hair. The eggs, varying in number 

 from four to six, but usually five, are greenish blue, marked with spots of reddish- 

 or blackish-brown. 



Seebohm, in his British Birds, describes the song as " a loud clear whistle," 

 and the food consists of various seeds, berries, and buds. 



The red colouring is absent in the plumage of the female, which is in general of 

 a neutral brownish tint, the wings and tail being darker, the throat and underparts 

 dull white or huffish, with dark streaks on breast and flanks. 



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