[Illustration: THE PINE GROSBEAK (_Pinicola enucleator_).]
The PINE GROSBEAK (_Pinicola enucleator_) deserves our notice, as being
the largest of the Bullfinches. Its beak is vaulted on all sides, and
the upper mandible somewhat hooked, in this respect differing from
other finches; the margin is slightly curved, and the extreme tip of
the under mandible rather blunted. The legs are short and strong, the
toes powerful, the claws large, and the wings, when closed, seldom
reach beyond the first third of the tail; the latter is graduated to
the centre. The Pine Grosbeak resembles the Singing Thrush in size,
its length being from eight to nine inches, from three to three and a
half of which belong to the tail; the breadth across the wings varies
from thirteen to fourteen inches, and the wing measures four and a half
inches from the shoulder to the tip. The plumage is rich, and somewhat
straggling. In the old male birds, a pretty red shade predominates,
whilst those of a year old are somewhat yellower; the throat is of a
paler colour, and the wings marked with two crooked lines. The individual
feathers are ash-grey, blackish along the shaft, tipped at the end with
a red or reddish yellow, and dotted here and there in the middle with
a darker shade; the edges, on the contrary, are somewhat lighter, thus
producing a cloudy kind of marking. The wing and tail feathers are black,
bordered with a light shade, these borders being much more distinct upon
the shoulder-feathers. The beak is of a dirty brown, blackish at the
tip, the legs greyish brown, and the eyes dark brown. This bird inhabits
the northern countries of Europe and Asia, and in America there is a very
similar species. As far as we can ascertain, the Pine Grosbeaks live
during the summer alone, or in pairs, and only assemble during the winter
in flocks, that may be seen flying over the northern woods or frequenting
the solitary farms, returning at the commencement of spring to their
retreats in the forests. Should a heavy fall of snow occur and compel
them to migrate to more southern parts, the flocks will join each other,
and that often in very considerable multitudes.
In the years 1790-93-98, and 1803, such enormous swarms of these birds
appeared in the islands of the Baltic, that in the country about Riga
some thousands of pairs were caught weekly for a considerable time. They
were also very numerous in Russia during the winter of 1821, and have
been more recently seen in great numbers in various parts of Germany. We
have to thank these involuntary wanderers for nearly all the information
we possess concerning their habits, for we are but little acquainted with
their mode of life in their native wilds. Whilst with us, they fly about
in flocks during the day, eat in company, and settle in the evening all
together upon the same sleeping-place, their favourite haunts being the
pine forests, and they seem to prefer those in which the underwood is
composed of young juniper-trees. They do not frequent thick foliage, but
fly over barren plains as rapidly as possible.
When these birds first come amongst us they are harmless, confiding
creatures, who have not yet experienced the artifices of man, never
offering to stir if a stranger or hunter approach the trees on which they
are perched, and will stare at the gun destined for their destruction
without thinking of flight, even should one of their companions be shot
down from the same branch. Persons have tried successfully to catch them
by means of snares fastened to the end of poles, by the aid of which
they could be thrown over the heads of the birds; indeed, the clumsiest
kind of trap is all that is required to catch these unsuspicious little
wanderers. The most touching tales are told of the attachment of the
Pine Grosbeak to its mate. On one occasion, three out of a party of
four had been captured, when, to the astonishment of all, the fourth
crept into the net in order to share the fate of its companions. It
must not be imagined, however, that these birds are really foolish, for
experience soon teaches them its lessons, and they become distrustful,
shy, and cautious. In its habits the Pine Grosbeak often reminds us of
the Cross-bill; it is essentially a tree-bird, being quite at home upon
a branch, but uneasy and out of place upon the ground. It can climb
skilfully from one bough to another, hopping with ease to tolerably
distant branches. Its flight is rapid, and, like that of most finches,
rather undulating, and it hovers before perching. Its voice is flute-like
and expressive, resembling that of the bullfinch, and its song, which
may be heard throughout the whole of the winter, is very varied and
pleasing on account of its soft clear notes. In winter we do not hear
it in perfection, as it is then low and disjointed; but in spring, when
the male rouses all his energies to cheer his little mate, his tones
would satisfy the most fastidious critic; it sings during the clear light
summer nights of its native land, and is there called on that account
"the Watchman." This bird has many other good qualities, and, owing
to its gentle, confiding temperament, may be easily tamed if properly
treated. It becomes, in a few days, accustomed to confinement, taking
its food readily from the hand, and will allow itself to be stroked,
or even carried about the room, all the time testifying its happiness
and content. It is an interesting sight to see a male and female bird
in one cage, for their tenderness towards each other is extreme; but,
alas! in one point they are deficient--they do not survive the loss of
their freedom for any considerable length of time, and pine away rapidly,
especially when their keepers forget that these children of the north
must have fresh cold air, and foolishly confine them in hot rooms. The
birds that come to us prove themselves almost entirely insensible to
cold, and are lively and cheerful in the most severe winter weather.
If shut up in a warm, close chamber, they will climb uneasily around
their cage, open their beaks and pant, thereby showing how unbearable
and injurious they find the heat of such an unwonted climate. Under
favourable circumstances they will live for a year in confinement; but
their plumage does not retain its beauty after the first six months,
turning yellow and losing its brilliancy. It is best to keep them, even
during the winter, in an unwarmed room, or still better in a cage hung
outside the house. In its native state the Pine Grosbeak feeds upon the
seeds of the fir-trees, which it picks out of the open cones or gleans
from the ground. It will also eat many kinds of seeds or berries, and
looks upon green weeds and the buds of trees as dainties. Tame birds are
fed with linseed, rapeseed, and juniper or mountain-ash berries; they
require a considerable quantity of food, as they are large eaters. It
would seem that in summer they live extensively upon insects, especially
flies, and with these they probably feed their young.
We have but scanty knowledge of their manner of breeding. In one instance
that came under our notice, the nest was made in a privet-bush about four
feet high. It was very lightly built, and scarcely thicker than that of
a hedge-sparrow, the outer wall being formed of dry stalks of plants,
and the interior lined with horsehair. The brood consisted of four eggs
of a beautiful bright blue, tinted at the broad end with reddish brown,
and having a few chestnut-brown spots. In colour and marking they much
resemble those of the Cherry Hawfinch. Only the female sits upon the
eggs, but during her seclusion she is cheered by the song of her mate.