Nest and Eggs of the California Pine Grosbeak. 35 



On the following morning we returned with carpenter tools 

 and sufficient boards to build a rough platform up in the hem- 

 lock, which would serve in securing the eggs as well as photo- 

 graphs of the birds. After the writer had climbed the tree, 

 and the tools and lumber were hauled up, a strong though 

 rough platform was built ; and to show how remarkably close 

 pine grosbeaks sit I may add that the bird remained on the nest 

 during the entire time, nor did she flush even when the edge of 

 the staging was placed and nailed but a few feet from her. 



The pictures shown were taken when the bird lit in a fir close 

 by, the best being secured when the Grosbeak was on the ex- 

 tremity of a long branch in a rather open situation. The male 

 only put in his appearance at intervals, and while occasionally 

 approaching quite close never came within arm's length as 

 did the female. Sometimes the latter would hover directly over 

 the nest melodiously twittering. Neither bird made any attempt 

 to resent our intrusion as birds of a more combative tempera- 

 ment, like the Brewer blackbird or olive-sided flycatcher, would 

 have been apt to do ; in fact, they were of a remarkably gentle 

 and affectionate disposition, and a number of times the pair 

 were noticed billing, which shows this habit is not necessarily 

 confined to the time of courtship. 



The call-note of the pine grosbeak, and we surely had an 

 unequaled opportunity for hearing it, is a two-syllabled call 

 bearing some sHght resemblance to the words "all-right." Al- 

 though Chester Barlow has stated that it is a "harsh call-note 

 like that of the Louisiana tanager," we cannot agree with him. 

 In the first place, "churtig," the call of the tanager, is not itself 

 particularly unmusical, and, in the second place, the call note 

 of the pine grosbeak is much more melodious, being peculiarly 

 clear and liquid. 



The ground color of the eggs approaches closely to Nile 

 blue, but is slightly deeper and more rich in shade. The sur- 

 face markings are spots and blotches, chiefly around the larger 

 end, and in the form of a rough wreath of black and of a rich 

 deep brown called vandyke. There are underlying scattered 

 spots of wood brown and splashy shell markings of olive gray. 

 The eggs are ovate in shape and measure 1.02 x .69, 1.02 x .67, 

 and .98 X .71. 



