Some V" ' 
A specimen of the Pine Grosbeak (. Pinicola enucleator ) was taken at 
Whitby, Ont., Nov. 18, 1901, from a number that had been in that vicinity 
for some time, and was sent to me by a friend. — J. H. Ames, Toronto, 
Auk, XIX, Jan., 1902, p. 
Ontario. 
Birds of N.S. coast of Labrador 
by Henry B. Bigelow. 
63. Pinicola enucleator. Pine Grosbeak. — Common in the spruce 
woods north of Aillik, beyond which the spruces dwindled into low 
bushes. 
Auk, XIX, Jan., 1902, p.29. 
The Winter Fringillidae of New Brunswick. — The list of birds given 
below includes the members of the Finch and Sparrow family which occur 
in New Brunswick during the months of December, January, and February 
During these three months migration is as nearly at a standstill as at any 
time during the year. This family is represented by more species than 
any other family of birds, eleven species occurring here during the winter 
months, in greater or lesser numbers, being sometimes plentiful and even 
abundant and in other years rare. 
The year 1901 has brought several surprises, the regular winter birds 
having been rather scarce, while two species which do not ordinarily occur 
here till late in March, and another noc till mid May, have been more 
plentiful than any of the regular winter birds, except probably the Black- 
capped Chickadee and Red-breasted Nuthatch. 
Pinicola enucleator. Pine Grosbeak. — This is a rare summer resident 
as far south as Fredericton, N. B. They come south in autumn in flocks 
varying in number from three or four to fifty. By people little acquainted 
with birds they are often mistaken for the Robin. In fact, they have been 
called ‘Winter Robins’ by some ornithologists. 
Their habit of living in summer in coniferous forests, generally far 
from the haunts of man, causes them to have little fear of him when they 
come south, and one may approach quite closely to examine them. When 
they are feeding one may often get quite up to the tree in which they are 
resting. 
Their food in winter consists of almost any of the persistent fruits. 
A favorite food is the seeds of the ground ash, which they pick from the 
trees and even from the ground where they have been blown by heavy 
winds. This winged fruit they dissect, taking only the meat. Small 
apples are also eaten. At times the pulp is cast away and only the seeds 
eaten, and again their crops have been found to contain the pulp. 
They also feed upon the fruit of the sumach. Their never failing diet is 
the tips of fir twigs, the buds which produce the next season’s growth. 
These are bitten off, and to reach them the birds at times hang nearly up 
side down, as the lithe limbs bend with the weight of the birds. When 
this food has been eaten the bill is covered with balsam. Elm buds also 
are eaten after they begin to swell in spring. 
The flight of the Pine Grosbeak is slightly undulating, and when on the 
wing they often give forth a soft loud whistle by imitating which they 
may be induced to alight nearby. 
Some ornithologists claim that this species nests far north, and so early 
in spring that the eggs are laid before the snow has gone. This may be 
true, but it is also true that they breed in New Brunswick in the month 
of July. 
’.o ' 
