EASTERN EVENING GROSBEAK 213 



left we collected the nest, which is now in the Royal Ontario Museum 

 of Zoology and Palaeontology. Its measurements are: Inside of 

 cup — longest diameter, 3.7 in.; shortest diameter, 3.2 in.: Outer 

 diameters — longest, 5.9 in.; shortest, 4.3 in.: Depth of cup — 2.8 in.: 

 Total depth — 5.1 in. to supporting limb; 5.9 ins. including twigs 

 below limb. Most of the foundation of the nest is of twigs from 

 deciduous trees (maple, bh'ch, viburnum, red-osier, dogwood), a 

 piece of a vine (possibly bittersweet), twig of raspberry. Many of 

 the twigs are opposite branching (maple, viburnum, dogwood). The 

 smaller twigs are from coniferous trees, mostly from spruce, some 

 from balsam fir, and one from tamarack. The edge of the nest is of 

 rootlets interwoven with Usnea lichen. The innermost lining is of 

 what appears to be black moss — the dead stage of threadlike lichens. 

 Dr. C. H. D. Clarke assisted with the identification of the nest 

 material. 



The following summer (1946) grosbeaks were found nesting some 

 10 miles south of Lauder Township in Algonquin Park. Says C. E. 

 Hope (1947): 



During the last week of May, a road, about one and one-half miles in length, 

 was bulldozed through a mixed forest of second-growth white pine, black and 

 white spruce, balsam and birch. The action of the scraper exposed a myriad of 

 rootlets which, after a few days, became dry and brittle. Coinciding with this 

 period at least ten pairs of Evening Grosbeaks established themselves in what 

 might be termed a loose colony, in woods adjacent to a section of this road. Pairs 

 were frequently seen on the freshly graded earth. On June 10, a female, accom- 

 panied by her mate, was observed to carry off rootlets in her bill. On June 12, 

 a similar observation was made and on this occasion we were fortunate enough 

 to see where the material was taken and deposited. The performance was re- 

 peated several times, with only the female carrying the material but always 

 accompanied by the male. The nest, situated 28 feet from the ground in a black 

 spruce, was left undisturbed until June 22 when it was collected. It was found 

 to be placed close to the trunk some six or seven feet from the top of the tree 

 and almost entirely hidden by dense foliage. It contained four slightly incubated 



On June 21 a second nest was discovered 30 feet 5 inches up in a balsam. Like 

 the first, it was invisible from the ground and was situated close to the trunk, six 

 or seven feet from the top. It contained three eggs on the date mentioned. 

 This nest was left undisturbed until July 6. It was then found to contain three 

 partially fledged young. One, taken for a specimen, proved to be a male. * * * 

 The remaining two young left the nest on July g. * * * 



A point of interest concerning the structure of the two nests found is that from 

 seventy-five to ninety per cent of the materials used consisted of rootlets such 

 as were exposed in the newly made road. Oddly enough, the taking up of nesting 

 territories adjacent to the road coincided with the exposure of unlimited nesting 

 material. 



Marjory B. Sanger reported in a letter to me the first nesting I 

 have heard of for the Province of Quebec. Between May 26 and 

 May 30, 1955, she watched a pair of evening grosbeaks gathering 



