Genus XVIL— COCCOTHRAUSTES, Briss. GROSBEAK. 



Bill of moderate length, extremely robust, almost as broad as the head, 

 not compressed, conical, pointed; upper mandible rather broader than the 

 lower, with the dorsal line slightly convex, the ridge indistinct, the nasal 

 sinus extremely wide and short, the sides rounded, the edges simply arched 

 and a little inflected, the notches almost obsolete, the tip a little deflected; 

 lower mandible with the angle extremely short and wide, forming the fourth 

 of a circle, the dorsal line straight, the sides at the base and in their whole 

 length convex, the edges involute, the tip acute; nostrils basal, round. 

 Plumage blended. Wings of moderate length, pointed, the outer three 

 quills nearly equal, the second longest. Tail of moderate length, emargi- 

 nate. Tarsus short, compressed, with seven scutella; toes moderate, hind 

 toe stout, broad beneath; outer toe a little longer than the inner, and adhe- 

 rent at the base. Claws moderate, or rather stout, arched, compressed, 

 acute. Upper mandible concave beneath, with three prominent lines. 



EVENING GROSBEAK. 



i COCCOTHRAUSTES VESPERTINA, Cooper. 



PLATE CCVII Male, Young Male, and Female. 



This fine species of Grosbeak was first introduced to the notice of orni- 

 thologists by Mr. William Cooper, who published an account of it in the 

 Annals of the Lyceum of New York. Mr. Schoolcraft observed a few 

 individuals, in the beginning of April, 1823, near the Sault Sainte Marie in 

 Michigan, from which the species was traced to the Rocky Mountains. Dr. 

 Richardson mentions it as a common inhabitant of the maple groves on the 

 Saskatchewan plains, whence "its native appellation of Sugar-bird." The 



