Lexington, Mass
1916.
January 6
(11)
[January 6, 1916]

and gentle dignity of bearing. In respect to their almost 
unvarying erectness of posture they seemed very unlike
Pine Grosbeaks but had essentially the same methods
of dealing with the winged seeds on which they were
feeding. These were first plucked off and shorn of their
wings, then extracted from their sheaths and swallowed, 
the whole being accomplished most dextrously, within
the space of no more than a few seconds. The discarded
seed cases and wings strewed the snow thickly everywhere
beneath the box elder and another tree of the same kind which, previously, had
been completely stripped. Just how the sumac berries were dealt 
with we could not certainly make out.
  Although the Grosbeaks [Evening Grosbeak] seemed wholly undisturbed
by our presence, movements, voices etc. at all distances exceeding
ten or fifteen paces, they would not tolerate much nearer
approach.  Invariably when I attempted it they first
raised their crests and uttered cries of alarm, then flew off into
neighboring trees. Hence they were less confiding than are most Pine Grosbeaks.