PINE GROSBEAK. 
181. 
me the following notice, which I trust will prove as interesting to you as it 
has been to me. Last winter the snow was exceedingly deep, and the 
storms so frequent and violent that many birds must have perished in con- 
sequence of the scarcity of food. The Pine Grosbeaks being driven from 
the woods, collected about the barns in great numbers, and even in the 
streets of Pictou they frequently alighted in search of food. A pair of these 
birds which had been recently taken were brought me by a friend, but they 
were in such a poor emaciated condition, that I almost despaired of being- 
able to preserve them alive. Being anxious, however, to note for you the 
changes of their plumage, I determined to make the attempt ; but notwith- 
standing all my care, they died a few days after they came into my pos- 
session. Shortly after, I received a male in splendid plumage, but so 
emaciated that he seemed little else than a mass of feathers. By more 
cautious feeding, however, he soon regained his flesh, and became so tame as 
to eat from my hand without the least appearance of fear. To reconcile him 
gradually to confinement, he was permitted to fly about my bedroom, and 
upon rising in the morning, the first thing I did was to give him a small 
quantity of seed. But three mornings in succession I happened to lie rather 
later than usual, and each morning I was aroused by the bird fluttering upon 
my shoulder, and calling for liis usual allowance. The third morning, I 
allowed him to flutter about me some time before shewing any symptom of 
being awake, but he no sooner observed that his object was effected than he 
retired to the window and waited patiently until I arose. As the spring 
approached, he used to whistle occasionally in the morning, and his notes, 
like those of his relative the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, were exceedingly rich 
and full. About the time, however, wdten the species began to remove to 
the north, his former familiarity entirely disappeared. During the day he 
never rested a moment, but continued to run from one side of the window 
to the other, seeking a way of escape, and frequently during the night, when 
the moonlight would fall upon the window, I was awakened by him dashing 
against the glass. The desire of liberty seemed at last to absorb every other 
feeling, and during four days I could not detect the least diminution in the 
quantity of his food, while at the same time he filled the house with a piteous 
wailing cry, which no person could hear without feeling for the poor captive. 
Unable to resist his appeals, I gave him his release ; but when this was 
attained he seemed very careless of availing himself of it. Having perched 
upon the top of a tree in front of the house, he arranged his feathers, and 
looked about him for a short time. He then alighted by the door, and I 
w-as at last obliged to drive him away, lest some accident should befall him. 
“ These birds are subject to a curious disease, which I have never seen in 
any other. Irregularly shaped whitish masses are formed upon the legs and 
Vol. III. 81 
