Family XLIII. PRINGILLID^. Finches, Sparrows, &c. 



CLXXXIII. HESPERIPHONA Bonaparte. 1850. 



514. jEvening Grosbeak. 



Hesperiphona vespertina (Coop.) Bonaparte. 185(3. 

 A rare winter visitant at Montreal. I believe the first record 

 of the occurrence of this species here was during the winter months^ 

 of the year 1890, when several were observed January 28th, in 

 McGill College grounds by Dr. Harrington of this city. (Wint/e.) 

 In the spring of 1899 one fine male was shot in Rockcliffe Park by 

 Mr. Muirhead who was a guest at Government House. {Macoun.) 

 A rare winter visitor. Seen in considerable numbers at Guelph, 

 Ont., during February, igo2, a flock of seventy-five being seen 

 on the 6th' of that month by Prof. M. W. Doherty. {A. B. Klugk) 

 Sometimes appears in large flocks in winter ; it comes into the 

 Parry Sound district much more regularly than is supposed. A 

 flock remained at Emsdale till the end of the first week in May, 

 1897, feeding on the seeds of the sumac. (/. H.Fleming.) Since 

 the winter of 1889-90, I have only seen two or three specimens of 

 this bird around Toronto; the last, a female, being taken near the 

 city in April, 1897. (/. Hughes-Samuel.) This species is an 

 abundant winter visitor at Portage la Prairie and Winnipeg and in 

 other parts of Manitoba. It generally appears about the middle 

 of October. From that date it continually increases in numbers 

 until December when it reaches its maximum. Whilst here it 

 frequents the Northwest maple or box elder, feeding on its 

 seeds, and seldom visits the ground, except in spring, when it will 

 sometimes crowd thickly on a bare spot, apparently seeking small 

 gravel for digestive purposes. As far as known its nest has never 

 been found. {Thompson-Seton.) This gay and very remarkable 

 bird is a common inhabitant of the maple groves (Negunda 

 aceroides) on the Saskatchewan plains. As it arrives late we left 

 Carlton House before they arrived, but Mr. Prudens kindly sent 

 specimens to us. It frequents the borders of Lake Superior also, 

 and the eastern declivity of the Rocky Mountains, 'in Lat. 56°, 

 but its habits are unknown. (Richardson?} I have not seen this 

 bijrd alive myself but have seen two that were killed at Prince 



