* 
1902 
May 10 <-> 
* 
At Bensen* s landing we saw three Rose-breasted 
Grosbeaks, two fine males and a female, feeding in company 
in the top of a small gray birch less than ten feet above the 
ground. They kept close together, much of the time within 
six or eight inches of one another, and the two male birds 
seemed to be on the best of terms. The female is the first 
I have seen this season. As I was watching these birds, I 
could not help wondering why they are equipped with such 
ponderous and massive bills. So far as I know they never 
eat other than soft food# 
1902 
May 13 
The Cat-bird which nests in the thickets just to the 
eastward of the cabin arrived yesterday and this morning he 
was joined by his mate. At about 8.30 A. M. I saw four 
birds of this species together near the Birch Gate. They were 
in the trees on the edge of the river and acting in a sin¬ 
gular manner. When one flew, he was followed in qtaick suc¬ 
cession by all the others. The first bird would alight in the 
top of a small tree, usually a birch, and the others would 
cluster closely about him,when all four would lengthen out 
their necks and point their bills almost straight upward.at 
the same time spreading their tails, and uttering a variety 
of low, wheezy sounds with an occasional harsh squawk, none 
