The Evening Grosbeaks of Leominster, Massachusetts 301 



I was apprised of their coming at the very first, and from that time until 

 their departure I took a Hvely interest in them, studying their habits and 

 making notes of their actions from day to day. They were extremely methodi- 

 cal and regular in their habits. Just before sunrise, each morning, they were 

 sure to appear, always coming from the same direction, which seemed to 

 prove that they roosted in the same place every night. Their arrival was 

 unmistakably announced by a chorus of sharp, crisp calls. Occasionally 

 one or two of them would break out with a clear, robin-like song, which was 

 sure to catch the ear of the listener or passer-by, and cause him to stop and 

 gaze in wonder at the beautiful author, whose cheery song seemed so strangely 

 in contrast to the bleak surroundings of wind, snow and sleet. 



At first the birds seemed to confine operations to the well-seeded box elder 

 tree standing in Mr. Chase's yard. They did not leave it, the whole of any one 

 day, until the last seed was eaten; then they betook themselves to a row of 

 large trees, ash, box elder and mountain-ash, on either side of Washington 

 street, and only a few steps from my home; and here they were sure to be 

 found, some part of each day, as long as they remained in the town. 



Their choice of food was decidedly in favor of the seeds and berries growing 

 on the ash or elder trees, yet they by no means ignored the scraps and crumbs 

 that were saved from a goodly number of tables, and thrown to them. Dishes 

 containing pure water were daily placed on piazzas or fence-posts, and these, 

 too, were well patronized by the Grosbeaks. 



They were singularly regular in their movements, coming at an early 

 hour each morning to their feeding-place, and remaining in the vicinity until 

 about the middle of the afternoon, when they would disappear, not to return 

 again until the next day. The flock was composed largely of females, yet 

 there were among them seven or eight males. 



For the past three or four winters, a few small flocks of Grosbeaks, some 

 four or five individuals, have visited this town. Their stay has always been 

 very short, only a few days at most, and so all bird-lovers were urged to make 

 an effort to see this large flock at once, as it was presumed that they, too, 

 would be with us for only a short time ; but, as the winter wore on, they seemed 

 to be perfectly satisfied with their surroundings, and it soon became evident 

 that they intended to remain with us at least as long as the cold weather 

 lasted. As their place of rendezvous was only a few steps from my house, 

 I had ample opportunity for watching them and noting the time of their 

 departure. 



As, each day, the sun ran higher and higher, and the snows melted away, 

 I would say, "Surely, this will be their last day;" but the spring came on 

 apace, and the early migrants began to arrive, until it was no uncommon 

 thing to see Robins, Bluebirds and Evening Grosbeaks among the branches 

 of the same trees, while, in the thickets underneath, the notes of the Song 

 Sparrows, Juncos and Fox Sparrows were much in evidence. 



