“It was those Sparrows in the city that made me think all wild birds must be ugly; but that was because I was too smart and didn’t know anything about other birds,” said Nat frankly.

“I think we are getting way off from Nat’s yellow bird,” said Dodo; “and now I see lots more of Rap’s Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, over on the fence.  I want to know what they are doing in the potato field.  I hope they don’t dig up the little potatoes.”

“No, you need not worry about that,” said the Doctor, “and you must wait a bit yet, for the Rose-breast does not come until nearly the end of his family.”

“There must be a great many different-looking birds in this Finch family,” said Rap, “if plain Sparrows and yellow Goldfinches both belong to it.”  “Indeed there are!  Did I not say that there were both Quakers and soldiers in it?” said the Doctor.  “For in addition to the Goldfinch there is a bright-blue cousin and a red one.”

“What are their names, and shall we see them here?” cried Dodo.

“You will learn their names very soon.  The blue one now has a nest across the meadow, and the red one makes us a visit every autumn; but you must stop asking questions if you want to hear about them to-day.

“The first of the Finch family is a bird you will only see in the winter, and not even then if you are living further south than the middle range of States.  It is called the Pine Grosbeak.”

THE PINE GROSBEAK

“This bird has a great heavy beak, that makes him look rather stupid; in fact, this beak gives him the name of Gros-beak, which means the same as Great-beak.  He loves the pine woods of Canada and builds his nest among them, only a little way above the snow that still covers the ground at the early season when this bird begins housekeeping.

“When the northern winter is very severe, Pine Grosbeaks gather in flocks and scatter through the States.  But you must not expect to see a whole flock of beautiful strawberry-red birds, for only the old males are red; the females are dull gray and yellowish, while the young males look like their mothers, and do not wear their gay coats until they are two years old.  You will not be likely to hear these birds sing, though they sometimes do so on their winter trips.  Their usual call-note is a whistle which they give when flying.

[Illustration:  Pine Grosbeak.]

“Some day this winter when you are taking a walk you may see them on the ground under chestnut and beech trees, and in old pastures where the red sumach berries are the only bright things left above the snow.  You will think it a very cheerful sight—­red birds and red berries together.  You will also have time to take a good look at them, for they move slowly, and be glad to know the names of your friends who are hardy enough to brave the cold.