The EVENING CHERRY HAWFINCH or SUGAR-BIRD (_Hesperiphona vespertina_),
(so called on the authority of Cooper, who tells us that its song is only
heard in the evening twilight), is the most beautiful species belonging
to this family. It inhabits the almost unexplored northern parts of North
America. The SUGAR-BIRD, as it is called by the Indians, is from eight
to eight and a half inches long, three inches of which belong to the
tail; the wing measures four and two-third inches from the shoulder to
the tip. In the male bird the top of the head, wings, and tail are deep
black, the line over the eyes, the middle of the back, lower part of
the body, and under wing and tail covers, being of a bright yellow. The
nape of the neck, sides of head, throat, and back of the neck, together
with a portion of the back and breast, are dark olive brown, the sides
of the shoulders yellow, with a greenish gloss, the quills of a dazzling
whiteness at the tip--all these various colours being so blended as
greatly to enhance the beauty of the whole coat. The female is without
the yellow line upon the head and the white spot upon the hinder quills;
the other feathers are paler and greyer in their tints; some of the
wing-feathers are tipped with white.
We learn from Townsend that the Evening Hawfinches are very numerous in
the pine forests of Columbia, and so tame as to become an easy prey.
Their song, which is popularly supposed to be only heard in the twilight,
may in favourable localities be distinguished during the entire day, but
as soon as night approaches they withdraw to the tree tops, and do not
stir again till morning dawns. They seem to be of a social disposition,
and are rarely seen living alone. They feed principally upon the seeds of
pine cones, but likewise consume the larvæ of large black ants in great
quantities. Their cry when in search of food has a somewhat screeching
sound; the actual song commences about noon; this latter is a most dismal
performance, and its tones are so pitiful that the bird itself seems to
feel their influence, and pauses from time to time as though overcome by
its own melancholy music, recommencing, however, very shortly, but with
the same result as before. Nothing further is known as to the habits of
this beautiful bird, which may be reckoned among the greatest rarities in
our collections.