THE BIRD BOOK 



513a. Great-tailed Grackle. 



Megaquiscalus major macrourus. 



Range. — Mexico to southern and eastern 

 Texas. 



This variety is larger than the last (length 

 18 inches) and the tail is very broad and flat. 



Grayish white 



Like the former, they nest in bushes, rushes or 

 trees at any elevation from the ground. The 

 nests are built of the same materials and the 

 eggs are similar to those of the Boat-tailed 

 Grackle, but larger; size 1.28 x .88. 



FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. Family FRINGILLD^ 



.^0-\^ 



Greenish wliite 



514. Evening Grosbeak. Hesperiphona vexpertina vespertina. 



Range. — Western United States in the Rocky Mountain region; north to Sas- 

 katchewan; south in winter to Mississippi Valley and cas- 

 ually east to New England and the intermediate states. 



These are dull and yellowish birds, shading to brownish 

 on the head; with a bright yellow forehead and suspercil- 

 iary line, black wings and tail, and white inner secondaries 

 and greater coverts. They breed in the mountainous por- 

 tions of their range, placing their flat nests of sticks and 

 rootlets in low trees or 



bushes. The eggs are laid in May or June and 



are greenish white spotted and blotched with 



brown; size .90 x .65. 



51 -la. Western EvENiN<i Grosbeak. 



Hesperiphona vespertina montana. 



Range. — Western United States, breeding in 

 tlie mountains from New Mexico to British 

 Columbia. 



The nesting habits and eggs of this variety 

 are the same as those of the preceding, and the 

 birds can rarely be separated. 



515. Pine Grosbeak. 

 leucura. 



Pinicola en ucleator 



Range. — Eastern North America, breeding 

 from northern New England northward, and 

 wintering to southern New England and Ohio 

 and casually farther. They build in conifers 



324 



Pine Grosbeak 



