EVENING GROSBEAK. 
433 
ful in plumage, peculiar in its habits, important to systemati- 
cal writers, it combines advantages of every kind. It was 
named and first described by Mr Cooper, and little has since 
been discovered of its history to be added to the information 
he has collected and given us in the journal above quoted. 
The species appears to have an extensive range in the north- 
ern and north-western parts of this continent, being met with 
from the extremity of the Michigan Territory to the Rocky 
Mountains, within the same parallels. It is common about the 
head of Lake Superior, at Fond du Lac, and near the Atha- 
basca Lake. A few were observed by Mr Schoolcraft, during 
the first week of April, 1823, about Sault Sainte Marie, Mi- 
chigan Territory, where they remained but a short time, and 
have not appeared since ; and by Major Delafield, in the 
month of August of the same year, near the Savannah river, 
north-west from Lake Superior. They appear to retire during 
the day to the deep swamps of that lonely region, which are 
covered with a thick growth of various trees of the coniferous 
order, and only leave them in small parties at the approach of 
night. Their note is strange and peculiar ; and it is only at 
twilight that they are heard crying in a singular strain. This 
mournful sound, uttered at such an unusual hour, strikes the 
traveller’s ear, but the bird itself is seldom seen ; though, pro- 
bably from its unacquaintance with man, it is so remarkably 
tame and fearless as almost to suifer itself to be caught with 
the hand. 
The specimen of the evening grosbeak presented to the 
Lyceum of New York, by Mr Schoolcraft, from which Mr 
Cooper established the species, was thought, until lately, the 
only one in possession of civilized man ; but we have since 
examined two others shot early in the spring on the Athabasca 
Lake, near the Rocky Mountains, and preserved among the 
endless treasures of Mr Leadbeater of London. From the 
aberrant species separated, or the reverse. We do not consider that this bird can 
range with Gmraca, — En. 
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VOL. III. 
