DELAWARE VALLEY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 37 



Hesperiphona vespertina vespertina perpetuates in three languages 

 the myth that this grosbeak only sings at twilight. 



Stuart E. White at Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1890 observed 

 flocks of the Evening Grosbeaks all through May and writes 

 this about their song : 



The song is a wandering, jerky warble beginning low, suddenly increasing 

 in power and suddenly ceasing as though the singer were out of breath. 



In closing, let me chronicle for the inspiration of all ardent 

 oologists the fact that the first recorded nest was taken on May 

 10, 1886 by E. H. Fiske in Yolo County, Cahfornia. At that 

 time the incubation was so far advanced that it was impossible 

 to preserve the eggs. They were reported to be like those of 

 the Black-headed Grosbeak. Since the migration of these birds 

 to the Eastern states seems to be steadily increasing and on 

 April 17, 1911 at Ithaca, New York a female was seen breaking 

 sticks, evidently in preparation for a nest, it is not at all im- 

 possible that the bird may yet be found nesting within collect- 

 ing distance of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club. 



