BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
225 
black ; secondaries mostly white. Rest of head, neck all around and anterior parts 
of body, dusky olivaceous, becoming paler behind. Female and young much 
duller with less yellow, and more brownish-ash ; lower parts very pale, almost white 
on belly. Length about 8^ ; wing about 4§ ; tail 3. 
Habitat.— Western North America, east to Lake Superior, and casually to Ohio, 
Pennsylvania, New York and Ontario ; from the Fur countries south into Mexico. 
The Evening Grosbeak first made its appearance in Pennsylvania in 
December last, and during the months of January, February, March 
and April (1890) scattered individuals or flocks containing from six to 
twenty or more were frequently seen. From my own personal obser- 
vations, as well as from reports received through the courtesy of other 
observers, it appears these birds were quite common in many of the 
western, northern and central parts of the state, but rare, or not seen at 
least, in some of the eastern counties from the date of their first appear- 
ance to the present time (May 15, 1890). Referring to my note-book I 
find single birds, but mostly small parties, were observed at different 
periods from December 17 to April 12, inclusive, in Rie following coun- 
ties : Erie, Crawford, Warren, Elk, Cameron, Susquehanna, Wyoming, 
Clinton, Lycoming, Yenan go, Beaver, Westmoreland, Somerset, Colum- 
bia, Washington and Lackawanna. Mr. Geo. P. Friant, of Scranton, 
obtained from a hunter in Wyoming county, in the latter part of April 
last, a number of these grosbeaks, which were at that time said to be 
abundant at West Nicholson. The stomach contents of a dozen or more 
specimens which I-examined consisted chiefly of seeds and green-colored 
vegetable substances, api^arently buds. From the Forest and Stream oi 
May 8, 1890, the following article, written May 1, by Mr F. F. Castle- 
bury, Montoursville, Lycoming county, is taken : “ Early in last Jan- 
uary a friend described to me a flock of strange birds he had seen the 
day before. From the imperfect description given I concluded they 
were Snow Buntings, and so paid no further attention to the matter. A 
few weeks later he killed three of them, and then I saw at once they 
were unlike any bird I had ever seen here. Upon investigation I found 
them to be Evening Grosbeaks. They have never before been recorded 
‘ as appearing east of Ohio, and but seldom east of Lake Superior, but as 
is well-known, a number of specimens have been taken in this state and 
in New York during the past winter. The birds, numbering about forty, 
have kept together in a single flock all through their stay. Their food 
seems to consist entirely of Avild cherry pits. They readily crack the 
stones with their stout bills, and a flock feeding on these makes a noise 
resembling a miniature Fourth of July celebration. The male has a 
loud, clear and beautiful song, while both birds have a peculiar piping 
whistle, which is apparently used as a call note, and is kept up con- 
stantly. Two or three weeks ago the birds became quite uneasy, keep- 
ing well to the tops of the trees and ranging for miles up and down the 
river ; but they finally returned to their old haunts, and noAv seem to 
15 Bmns. 
