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BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. 
The Ground Hemlock. 
Taxes canadensis, Willd ., Sp. PI., vol. iy. p. 856. Pursch, Flor. Amer. Sept, 
vol. ii. p. 647. — Di^ecia Monadelphia. — Conifers, Juss. 
The ground hemlock , or Canadian Yew , is abundant on the declivities of 
the mountains from Maryland to Maine. It is a low tree, or rather bush, 
often almost prostrate, and frequently hanging from the rocks. The leaves 
are linear, distichous, revolute at the margin. The berries, which are 
oblong or globular, and of a pale red colour are eatable. 
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. 
COCCOBORUS MELANOCEPHALUS, Swains. 
PLATE CCYI. — Male and Female. 
The following account of this Grosbeak affords another proof of the ardent 
seal of my excellent friend Thomas Nuttall, who, though more especially 
engaged with botany on his recent journey to the Columbia, has not neglect- 
ed opportunities of noting many interesting facts relating to birds. 
“ On the central table-land of the Rocky Mountains, and on the upper 
branches of the Colorado of the west, we first heard the powerful song of 
this most delightful Finch. From thence, in the thick groves of all the 
streams on our western course to the borders of the Columbia, and through- 
out the dense forests of that river nearly to the sea, we were frequently 
cheered amidst the wildest desolation by the inimitable voice of this 
melodious bird. Jealous of all intrusion on his lonely and wild haunts, it 
was seldom that we had the opportunity of witnessing this almost fairy 
musician, which gave a charm to the saddest gloom, and made the very 
woods as it were re-echo to his untiring song. With the modesty of superior 
merit, and almost with the solicitude of the Nightingale, our favourite Finch 
seeks the darkest thicket of the deepest forest. The moment his eye rests 
on the intruding observer he flies off in haste, calls to his mate, and plunging 
into the thicket sits in silence till he is satisfied of the restoration of solitude, 
when he again cautiously mounts the twig and pours out afresh the oft-told 
