General Notes. I 79 



Hesperiphona vespertina in Central Illinois. — The Evening 

 Grosbeak has for its habitat the region extending from the Plains to the 

 Pacific Ocean, and from Mexico into British America. Toward the north 

 it ranges further to the east; so that, while it appears to be not uncommon 

 about Lake Superior, it has been reported as occurring in Ohio, New York, 

 and Canada. In Illinois it was observed at Freeport during the winter of 

 1S70-71 ; and at Waukegan during January 1S73 (Hist. N. A. Birds by 

 Baird, Brewer, andRidgway). Mr. Robt. Ridgwav, in his recently issued 

 ■• Catalogue of the Birds of Illinois,*' states that it is "a winter visitant 

 to the extreme northern counties" of the State. 



It will, therefore, be a matter of interest to ornithologists to learn that 

 this exquisite bird is sometimes found further south and at a less advanced 

 season of the year. About the year 1S72. while hunting during the fine 

 autumn weather in the woods about Eureka. Illinois, I fell in with a flock* 

 of these Grosbeaks and succeeded in killing six of their number. They 

 were feeding in the treetops on the seeds of the sugar maple, just then 

 ripening, and were excessively fat. Thev were very unsuspicious, and for 

 a long time appeared to be incapable of realizing the havoc that I was 

 making in their ranks, as they tarried in the neighboring boughs and ut- 

 tered their call-notes to summon their missing companions. As the skins 

 of these birds afterward passed out of my hands. I can not now give with 

 certainty the year of their capture. Eureka is in Woodford County and 

 one hundred and twenty miles nearly due south of Freeport. It is about 

 the same distance south of Waukegan. — O. P. Hay. Butler University, 

 Irvington, Ind. 



Habits of the Swamp Sparrow in Confinement. — Dr. Elliott 

 Cones : My dear Sir : — You may recall a conversation on the subject of 

 my aviary which took place at the " Wentworth '* last summer. As vou 

 then appeared somewhat interested in my experiments with native birds 

 I venture to send you some new facts. In the early part of November I 

 visited a New York bird store, and there found a cage of our native birds, 

 freshly caught, and very wild. The trapper who had just brought them 

 in was present. But as he was a German, speaking very little English, and 

 was moreover more than a little intoxicated; as he also while talking 

 held a short pipe in his mouth from which he puffed the smoke of villain- 

 ous tobacco into my face, our interview was not wholly satisfactorv. Still 

 I succeeded in obtaining some scraps of information. He had a Song 

 Sparrow, a -'Chippy," a White-throated Sparrow, two Purple Finches 

 (indifferent stages of plumage), a Snow-bird (Junco kyemalis),* Snow 

 Bunting (Plectropkancs nivalis), and one small bird I did not know. On 

 questioning its captor as to this last stranger he gave me to understand 

 that it was " Kleiner wasser bird — live in vet place, vere never could go the 

 lady — she vet her foots." I bought the whole lot, and, when at home, 

 studied up my unknown friend. He proved to be the Swamp Sparrow 

 (Melospiza palustris). and his habits are so curious I want you to know 

 of them. I placed him in a large cage, already containing some fifty birds, 



