290 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



of Ontario is the Bronzed Grackle. They like to be near water^ 

 and are very common in the town of Gait, breeding close to the 

 houses along the banks of the river. ■ There is a colony established 

 at East Hamilton, where thej' breed in the Norway spruce trees near 

 the residence of Mr. Barnes, who protects them from being molested, 

 whether wisely or not is open to question, for there rests at their 

 door the serious charge of robbing the nests of small birds and 

 destroying the eggs and young, besides that of being very destructive 

 to the sprouting corn in spring-time. 



The Bronzed Grackle is very abundant throughout Manitoba and 

 the North-West, and has been captured by Dr. Bell at York Factory. 

 The males arrive in Southern Ontario a few days before the females, 

 usually about the middle of April. It is noticed that the first to 

 arrive are in the richest plumage, the fine purple bronze being fulh' 

 developed. They are soon generally distributed over the country, in 

 suitable places, where they cause much family 'aiHiction during the 

 breeding season by carrying off the young of the smaller birds. 

 During October they gather in flocks and retire to the south, where 

 they spend the winter. 



Family FRINGILLID^. Finches, Sparrows, etc. 



Genus COCCOTHRAUSTES Brisson. 



Subgenus HESPERIPHONA Bonaparte. 



COCCOTHRAUSTES VESPERTINA (Coop.). 



210. Evening Grosbeak. (514) 



Dusky olivaceous, brighter behind ; forehead, line over the eye and under 

 tail coverts, yellow ; crown, wings, tail and tibise, black ; the secondary quills, 

 mostly white ; bill, greenish-yellow, of immense size, about j of an inch long 

 and nearly as deep. Length, 7^-8^ ; wing, 4-4J ; tail, 2J. The female and 

 young differ somewhat, but cannot be mistaken. 



Hab. — Western North America, east to Lake Superior, and casually to Ohio 

 and Ontario, from the Fur Countries south into Mexico. 



Nest, in a small tree or bush, a comparatively slight structure rather flat, 

 composed of sticks and roots, lined with soft vegetable material. 



Eggs, three, greenish ground color, blotched with brown. 



This is a western species whose line -oi travel in the season of 

 migration seems to be along the Mississippi Valley, casually coming 

 as far east as Ontario. 



