290 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



of Ontario is tlie Bronzed (irackle. Tlicy like ti) l)e near wateiv 

 and are very common in the town of (ialt. hreediny; close to the 

 houses along the banks of the rivei-. There is a colony estalilishefl 

 at East Hamilton, where they breed in the Norway sj))uce trees neai- 

 the residence of Mr. Barnes, who protects them from being molested, 

 whether wisely or not is open to question, for there rests at their 

 door the serious charge of robbing the nests of small birds and 

 destropng the eggs and young, besides that of Ijeing \eiy destructive 

 to the sprouting corn in spring-time. 



The Bronzed Grackle is very al)un(lant tln<>ui;h(iut 31anit()l)a and 

 the North- West, and has been captured l)y Dr. l>ell at Yoi'k Fact<iry. 

 The males arrive in Southern Ontario a few days before the females, 

 usually about the middle of April. Tt is noticerl that the first .to 

 arrive are in the richest plumage, the fine purple bronze being fully 

 developed. They are soon generally distril)uted over the country, in 

 suitable places, where they cause much family affliction during the 

 breeding season by carrying off the young of the smaller birds. 

 During October they gather in flocks and r-etire to the south, where 

 they spend the winter. 



Family FRINGILLID^. Finches, Sp.^kkows, etc. 



Genus COCCOTHRAUSTES Bkisson. 



Subgenus HESPERIPHONA Bon.\p.\rte. 



COCCOTHRAUSTES VESPERTINA (Coop.). 



210. Evening Grosbeak. (51+) 



Dusky olivaceous, Lrighter behind ; forehead, line over the eye and ui\der 

 tail coverts, yellow ; crown, wings, tail and tibiiv, l)lack ; the secondary quills, 

 mostly white ; bill, greenish-yellow, of immense size, al>out J of an inch long 

 and nearly as deep. Length, 7i-8i ; wing, 4-4i ; tail, ■2§. The femriXc and 

 youwj differ somewhat, but cannot be mistaken. 



Hab. — Western North America, east to Lake Suj)erioi-, and casually to Oliio 

 and Ontario, from the Fur Countries south into Mexico. 



Nest, in a small tree or bush, a comparatively slight structure rathei- flat, 

 composed of sticks and roots, lined with soft vegetal)le material. 



Eggs, three, greenish ground coloi-, blotchol with brown. 



This is a western species whose line of ti"ivel in the season of 

 migration seems to be along the Mississippi Valley, casually coming 

 as far east as C)ntario. 



