Sept, 1912 DISCOVERY OF NEST AND EGGS OF CALIFORNIA FINE GROSBEAK 183 
while occasionally approaching quite close never came within arm’s length as 
did the female. Sometimes the latter would hover directly over the nest melodi- 
ously twittering. Neither bird made any attempt to resent our intrusion as 
birds of a more combative temperament 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 oppor- 
tunity for hearing it, is a two-syllabled call bearing some slight resemblance to 
the words “all-right”. Although 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 un- 
musical and in the second place the call note of the [fine Grosbeak is much more 
melodious being peculiarly clear and liquid. It is of an earnest, pleasing, mel- 
Fig. 76. ANOTHER POSE OF THE FEMALE CALIFORNIA 
PINE GROSBEAK NEAR NESTING-SITE 
low character and directly opposite to “harsh” which the dictionary defines as 
“rough to the ear, grating, discordant and jarring”. It will also be remembered 
that Mr. Price, in his notes, states that "the call is not loud nor harsh like that 
of the Western Evening Grosbeak.” 
As this was the identical place where we had seen two Pine Grosbeaks the 
evening we reached the Plateau we felt sure that these were the same pair of birds. 
At both nests observation showed that incubation was being done entirely by the 
female. In no instance was the latter fed on the nest but in some nearby tree. 
At other times the bird was seen foraging by herself, the bird’s food being always 
so readily available that it was unnecessary for her to remain off the nest but 
for a very short period. We had visited this same locality several days before 
but on that occasion as the male was away and the female sitting close on an 
almost invisible ne.st, the Pine Grosbeak and her home escaped our notice. 
After the photographic work was over, the nest and eggs wdth the parent 
