GROSBEAK. 
279 
GROSBEAK. 
Mr. B. shot a cock grosbeak which he had observed to haunt 
his garden for more than a fortnight. I began to accuse this 
bird of making sad havoc among the buds of the cherries, goose- 
berries, and wall-fruit of all the neighbouring orchards. Upon 
opening its crop or craw, no buds 
were to be seen ; but a mass of 
kernels of the stones of fruits. Mr. 
B. observed that this bird frequented 
the spot where plum-trees grow ; and 
that he had seen it with somewhat 
hard in its mouth, vrhich it broke 
with difficulty ; these were the stones Grosbeak, 
of damsons. The Latin ornithologists call this bird cocco- 
thraiistes, that is, berry-breaker, because with its large horny 
beak it cracks and breaks the shells of stone fruits for the sake 
of the seed or kernel. Birds of this sort are rarely seen in Eng- 
land, and only in winter.* 
shows that it is not an habitual climber. Writers have strangel}' attributed the origin of the word 
" wryneck'^ to a supposed habit of frequently turning round the head while feeding, giving the 
mesial line at the back of the neck a contorted appearance. Much as I have noticed the bird, I 
never could observe this habit, and am sceptical rather as to its occurrence. Those who have ever 
winged or picked up a slightly wounded wryneck, will be at no loss to divine the origin of the 
appellation. Nothing can be n.ore ridiculous than the menacing postures it then assumes. 
Erecting the crest and closely depressing the neck plumage, it hisses like a snake, and moves 
about its long neck as if to imitate one. If placed again on the ground, its attitudes will be even 
more preposterous, and resembling those of an automaton figure, rather than of a creature 
endowed with life. — En. 
* This is a mistake ; the haw grosbeak is a resident species, but so extremely shy during the 
breeding season that it a long while escaped the attention of our naturalists. 1 know several 
localities where they annuallj' breed, and know one instance of a nest occurring two following 
seasons in the very same fork of a tree. It has but poor claims to our regard in the way of music, 
but generally delivers its few notes from a bare branch near tlie top of a tree. In summer the 
bills of both sexes become of a fine blue, and the young differ much from their parents, having a 
deal of yellowish about the head and throat, and many small dusky spots on the under plumage. 
A brood of them committed great depredations on my neighbour's green peas, one of which was 
shot, and is in my collection. It is extremely difficult to get even a distant shot at this bird in 
summer, as it flies off the moment it perceives a person approach. — Ed. 
