FRINGILLA VESPERTINA. 



EVENING GROSBEAK. 



[Plate XV. Fig. 1.] 



FringiUa vesperiina, Cooper, in Ann. Lye. New York, i., p. 220. Nob. Cat. Birds 

 U. S. Sp. 188, in Conir. Mad. Lye. Phila. i., p. 21. Id. Syn. Birds, U. S. Sp. 

 188, in Ann. Lye. N. Y. ii., p. 113. To. Siippl. in Zool. Journ. London, iv., p. 2, 



Few birds could form a more interesting acquisition to the Fauna of 

 any country than this really fine Grosbeak. Beautiful in plumage, 

 peculiar in its habits, important to systematical writers, it combines 

 advantages of every kind. It was named and first described by Mr. 

 Cooper, and little has since been discovered of its history to be added 

 to the information he has collected and given us in the journal above 

 quoted. The species appears to have an extensive range in the northern 

 and north-western parts of this continent, being met with from the 

 extremity of the Michigan territory to the Rocky Mountains, within 

 the same parallels. It is common about the head of Lake Superior, at 

 Fond du Lac, and near the Athabasca Lake. A few were observed by 

 Mr. Schoolcraft during the first week of April, 1823, about Sault 

 Sainte Marie, Michigan territory, where they remained but a short 

 time, and have not appeared since ; and by Major Delaficld in the month 

 of August of the same year, near the Savannah river, north-west from 

 Lake Superior. They appear to retire during the day to the deep 

 swamps of that lonely region, which are covered with a thick growth of 

 various trees of the coniferous order, and only leave them in small 

 parties at the approach of night. Thoir note is strange and peculiar, 

 and it is only at twilight that they are heard crying in a singular strain. 

 This mournful sound, uttered at such an unusual hour, strikes the 

 traveller's ear, but the bird itself is seldom seen ; though, probably from 

 its unacquaintance with man, it is so remarkably tame and fearless as 

 almost to suffer itself to be caught with the hand. 



The specimen of the Evening Grosbeak presented to the Lyceum of 

 New York by Mr. Schoolcraft, from which Mr. Cooper established the 

 species, was thought until lately the only one in possession of civilized 

 man ; but we have since examined two others shot early in the spring 

 on the Athabasca Lake, near the Rocky Mountains, and preserved 

 among the endless treasures of Mr. Leadbeater of London. From the 

 more perfect of these, our plate, already engraved from Mr. Cooper's 

 specimen, has been faithfully colored ; and the subjoined description 

 is carefully drawn up from a perfect specimen now before us, which 



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