APRIL, 1900. 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 
133 
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they flitted to a new position and repeated the operation. The 
snapping of their powerful bills as they bit the box-elder keys in 
two was distinctly audible. The key is held crosswise and divided 
about half an inch from one end just beyond the seed by one side 
of the bill, while with the other the seed itself is pressed or worked 
out, the two parts of the key dropping to the ground together. 
While feeding the males kept up a continual peeping or chirping, 
not much louder and very similar to that made by as many English 
sparrows. Occasionally they all flew to the ground to pick up 
any seeds that might have fallen and while there were almost in- 
variably silent. When tired of feeding they would sometimes fly 
to the roof of the nearest house and when there also be quite silent, 
especially about mid-day. 
Grosbeaks are known to eat the mast and buds of the maple, 
the berries of cedar and climbing bittersweet and the seeds of 
apples, but on this occasion they seem to have given their atten- 
tion almost exclusively to the seeds of the box-elder, probably be- 
cause it was so abundant and was preferred by them. Particular 
pains were' taken to determine if they fed upon the buds of this 
tree, as it is stated that they prefer the buds to the seeds, but in 
no instance were they observed to pay any attention to the former. 
During the snow storm of March 4th they ate the snow greedily, 
picking it in large mouthfuls from where it accumulated on the 
branches and in the forks of the trees. On one occasion they were 
seen to search hurriedly and unsuccessfully through an apple or- 
chard which doubtless they had previously visited arid thoroughly 
despoiled of any frozen fruit it might have contained. 
When flying low, as from one feeding place to another not 
far away, their flight was undulating and only moderately fast, but 
when flying at a greater height it was direct and very rapid. 
Note on the Food of the Canada Jay, (Pcrisorcns canadensis). 
By W. J. Bennetts. The following was found in the stomach 
of a Canada Jay collected in Barron County, Wisconsin, on Nov. 
15th, 1899. It will be noted that the list is characterized by con- 
siderable variety and that although a cold spell prevailed at the 
time insects were still to be obtained. 
The stomach contained ( i ) five seeds of staghorn sumac 
(Rhus typhina) ; (2) ten seeds unknown; (3) one carabid beetle; 
(4) one large weevel (Phyncophora) ; (5) one Hymenopter; (6) 
one Hemipter fCapsid) ; (7) one Tettix grasshopper; (8) several 
caterpillars; (9) bone of some batrachian, probably tree frog, and 
(10) bits of shell of mollusc. 
