Notes on the Plumage of North American Sparrows 



TWELFTH PAPER 



By FRANK M. CHAPMAN 



(See frontispiece) 



Evening Grosbeak {Hesperiphona vespertina. Figs. 1-3). — The nestling 

 plumage of the Evening Grosbeak, whether male or female, bears a general 

 resemblance to that of the adult female, but is huffier below and browner 

 above. The male shows no trace of black crown or yellow forehead, but at 

 this age can be distinguished from the female by the lack of white spots at 

 the end of the tail-feathers which characterize that sex. 



From this nestling or juvenal plumage the bird, at its first fall (post- 

 juvenal) molt, passes directly into essentially adult plumage. From fully 

 mature or highly plumaged individuals the male, in first winter plumage, 

 differs in its dusky or grayish tertials and in its more brownish back. There 

 appears to be no spring molt, and the slight difference between winter and 

 summer specimens is due to wear and fading. 



The Western Evening Grosbeak {H. v. montana), of the western United 

 States and northern Mexico, closely resembles the more eastern race, but 

 the male averages browner below and the female is more buffy. The Mexican 

 Evening Grosbeak {H. v. mexicana), of the coniferous forests at the southern 

 end of the Mexican table-land, resembles montana, but has the yellow band 

 on the forehead decidedly narrower. 



The Evening Grosbeaks of Leominster, Massachusetts 



By EDWIN RUSSELL DAVIS 



NEVER before have the people of Leominster and vicinity been able 

 to enjoy the rare treat that was theirs during the past winter and 

 spring. 

 On December 10, last, a flock of Evening Grosbeaks, containing some 

 thirty-five individuals, made its appearance in Leominster. The birds were 

 first seen feeding on the seeds of a box elder tree, standing in the yard of 

 Mr. Chase, on Grove avenue. 



The news of their arrival was quickly circulated, and people from all 

 parts of the town, and even from adjoining towns and cities, with and with- 

 out field-glasses, were soon flocking to the place, hoping to get a glimpse of 

 these most beautiful of winter visitors. In most cases they were successful, 

 for the birds seemed to be almost wholly without fear, and it was an easy mat- 

 ter to approach to within a few yards of them before they would take flight. 

 Then they generally flew for only a few yards, when they would alight again 

 and resume feeding. 



(300) 



