516 EVENING GROSBEAK. 
They feed upon the seeds of the pine and other trees, alighting upon 
large limbs, and proceeding by a succession of hops to the very extre- 
mities of the branches. They eat, as well as seeds, a considerable 
quantity of the larve of the large black ant, and it is probable that it 
is to procure this food that they are not uncommonly seen in the tops 
of the low oaks which here skirt the forests. Their ordinary voice, 
when they are engaged in procuring food, consists of a single rather 
screaming note, which from its tone I at first supposed to be one of 
alarm, but soon discovered my error. At other times, particularly about 
mid-day, the male sometimes selects a lofty pine branch, and there at- 
tempts a song; but it is a miserable failure, and he seems conscious of 
it, for he frequently pauses and looks discontented, then remains si- 
lent sometimes for some minutes, and tries it again, but with no bet- 
ter success. The note is a single warbling call, exceedingly like the 
early part of the Robin’s song, but not so sweet, and checked as though 
the performer were out of breath. The song, if it may be so called, 
is to me a most wearisome one: I am constantly listening to hear the 
stave continued, and am as constantly disappointed. Another error of 
the books is this,—they both state that the female is similar to the 
male in plumage. Now, this is entirely a mistake: she is so very dif 
ferent in colour and markings, that were it not for the size and colour 
of the bill, and its peculiar physiognomy, one might be induced to sup- 
pose it another species. The specimens in possession of Mr Lrap- 
peaTER of London, and from which Prince Bonaparte drew up his 
descriptions, must have been all males.” 
In the present plate you will find the figure of a male only ; but in 
Plate CCCCXXIV. are representations of the young male and adult 
female, which are however here described. 
FRINGILLA VESPERTINA, Cooper, Ann. Lyc. New York, vol. i. p. 220.—Ch. Bona- 
parte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 113. 
Evenine GrosBEAK, FRINGILLA VESPERTINA, Ch. Bonaparte, Amer. Orn. vol. ii. 
pl. 14. fig. 1. 
CoccoTHRAUSTES VESPERTINA, Evenine Grosseak, Richards. and Swains. Fauna 
Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 269. 
Evenine Grosseak, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. Appendix, p. 594. 
Adult Male. Plate CCCLXXIII. 
Bill of moderate length, extremely thick, conical, pointed ; upper 
