FINCHES 



of the big hills and mountains, although it is 

 found sporadically at various points in the 

 valleys the year around. Often in midsum- 

 mer one may hear the beady call note of the 

 evening grosbeak high overhead as it flies 

 across the valley from one high point to 

 another. It is a more famihar bird in the 

 fall when it visits the towns to feed upon the 

 crop of seeds that lie thick upon the ground 

 under the maples in the parks and along quiet 

 side streets. At such times the grosbeaks 

 may often be seen festooned over the top of 

 some large maple picking at the leaf buds or 

 winged seeds that may still be hanging on the 

 trees, or on the ground underneath walking 

 about, crackling the seeds with their queer, 

 thick flesh-colored bills. They are very 

 sociable birds and not only keep close to- 

 gether but carry on a continual twittering 

 conversation that sounds like the peeping of a 

 flock of young chickens just out of the shell. 



When suddenly startled on the ground they 

 will often resort to *' freezing" tactics instead 

 of flying, and when in such an attitude fade 

 almost imperceptibly into the background, 

 the white and black, and gold, blending per- 

 fectly with their surroundings. When once 

 they have found plenty of seed they are loath 

 to leave the spot and though frightened away 

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