206 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 23 7 ^abt i 



Distribution 



Range. — Manchuria, Korea, Japan, and China. 



Breeding range. — The Japanese hawfinch breeds in Manchuria, 

 Korea, and northern Japan south to central Honshu; possibly in 

 northeastern China. 



Winter range. — Winters in breeding range and south to south- 

 eastern China (Fukien Province). 



Casual records. — Accidental in Formosa and Alaska (St. Paul Island 

 in the Pribilofs). 



HESPERIPHONA VESPERTINA VESPERTINA (Cooper) 



Eastern Evening Grosbeak 



PLATES 12, 13, AND 14 



Contributed by Doris Huestis Speirs 



Habits 



The evening grosbeak was first described by William Cooper (1825) 

 from a specimen sent to him by Henry R. Schoolcraft from Sault Ste. 

 Marie, Mich. The first words written about it were those Schoolcraft 

 (1851) penned in his journal for Apr. 7, 1823: "During severe winters 

 in the north, some species of birds extend their migrations farther south 

 than usual. This appears to have been the case during the past season. 

 A small bird, yellowish and cinereous, of the grosbec species, appeared 

 this day in the neighbourhood of one of the sugar-camps on the river 

 below, and was shot with an arrow by an Indian boy, who brought it 

 to me. The Chippewas call it Pashcundamo, in allusion to the stout- 

 ness of its bill, and consequent capacity for breaking surfaces." 



William Cooper (1825), in his observation following the original 

 description, quotes from the notes of Major Delafield who, as agent of 

 the United States for boundaries, met the bird in August 1823 near the 

 Savannah Kiver, northwest of Lake Superior: 



At twilight, the bird which I had before heard to cry in a singular strain, and 

 only at this hour, made its appearance close by my tent, and a flock of about half a 

 dozen perched on the bushes in my encampment. They approached so near, and 

 were so fearless, that my canoe-men attempted to catch them, but in vain. I rec- 

 ognized this bird as similar to one in possession of Mr. Schoolcraft, at the Sault Ste. 

 Marie. 



Its mournful cry about the hour of my encamping, (which was at sunset) had 

 before attracted my attention, but I could never get sight of the bird but on this 

 occasion. There is an extensive plain and swamp through which flows the Sa- 

 vannah river, covered with a thick growth of sapin trees. My inference was then, 

 and is now, that this bird dwells in such dark retreats, and leaves them at the ap- 

 proach of night. 



