132 PROCEEDINGS MANCHESTER INSTITUTE 



numbers have decreased since the removal of some of the trees. 

 At Lake Umbagog, Mr. William Brewster ('76b) records that 

 numbers breed in the old woodpeckers' holes or natural cavities 

 of the standing, water-killed trees by the mouth of the Andros- 

 coggin. Throughout the White Mountain valleys, and most of 

 central New Hampshire north of Lake Winnepesaukee, the 

 bird seems to be entirely absent. Frank Bolles ('93b, p. 126) 

 states, however, that at Chocorua, according to the old resi- 

 dents, this species and the meadowlark were formerly common, 

 when flax was cultivated there, and grain fields were broader. 

 I>ates : March 12 to November. 



162. Coccothraustes vespertinus (Coop.). EVENING 

 GROSBEAK. 



An accidental visitant from the northwest, known to have oc- 

 curred only during the famous 1890 flight, when so many were 

 recorded from New England. During this incursion, the last 

 recorded specimen was taken in New Hampshire. Following 

 are the separate tecords for the state : Francestown, a fine 

 male was captured by Mr. T. Edward Bishop on March 

 27, 1890. A female accompanied this bird, but was 

 not captured (Colburn, '90) ; Henniker, a single bird, 

 the last recorded of this remarkable flight, in New England, 

 was shot by Mr. Aubrey B. Call ('90) on May i, 1890 ; Milford, 

 several were secured by Mr. J. P. Melzer ('90), who re- 

 cords that on January 6, 1890, five were obtained, and four 

 others on January 9th, from a flock of 8 or 10 birds of both sex- 

 es. These were among the first specimens to be obtained in 

 New England. Seabrook, a male was shot about Jan. 9, 1890, 

 by a Mr. Boyd, according to Mr. William Brewster ('96). A 

 female accompanied this bird. Mr. A. A. Eaton of Seabrook 

 writes me of what must have been this same specimen, that it 

 was one of a flock of six which appeared early in January, and 

 that it was presented to him on the 9th, after having been sev- 

 eral days dead. Later it was given to Mr. William Brewster. 

 The fact that there are no records for the northern part of the 

 state is probably due to lack of observation, for Mr. O. W. 



