File:Birds and nature (1907) (14770354583).jpg

Identifier: birdsnature51907chic (find matches)
Title: Birds and nature
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Birds Natural history
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Mumford, Publisher
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Institution Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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which becomegray with flowers as soon as the snowmelts. The scenery is much more park-like than further south and these birdsare much more plentiful and more easilyseen. In the large pine forests they pre-fer the banks of the rivers or the out-skirts of some open place and may oftenescape detection because of their habit offrequenting the tops of trees. Withinthe Arctic circle many of the trees aresmall and on the hilly ground they arescattered in small clumps. In places likethese the Pine Grosbeaks may often beseen perched conspicuously on the topof a spruce fir, twenty or thirty feet fromthe ground but looking so^ much like thelast spike of the tree as frequently toescape notice. The Pine Grosbeak is a retiring birdand would seem to be somewhat shy asit does not frequent the roadside or in-habited places except when forced to doso by the lack of food. This, however,is not the case, for in the forests whereit makes its home it is not difficult toapproach it. It will frequently alight
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FROM COL. CM 441 ACAD. SCIENCES. PINE GROSBEAK. (Pinicola enucleator.) % Life-size. ilFOnO, CHIC«QO. and begin feeding within a few feet ofan observer. The song of the European form ofthis species is said to be exceedinglyagreeable, varied, melodious, sonorous—sometimes strong, sometimes soft. Itis also a mocker and to a limited extentwill imitate the voices of other birds.Dr. Cones likens its song to that of thepurple finch and says that during thelate summer and winter it is clear, sweetand flowing. Its call note is single,sweet and plaintive not unlike that ofthe well known bullfinch. Pine seeds seem to form the principalfood of the Pine Grosbeak though it alsofeeds extensively on those of the birch,alder and related trees. At times it willdescend to the ground and gather theseeds of herbaceous plants and may eata few insects. Dr. Dall writing of thePine Grosbeak as he found it in Alaska,says: *T have opened the crops of agreat many and always found them, filledwith what I for a

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