LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



by the necessity of food, mainly makes its appear- 

 ance with the snow, or a few clays anterior to its 

 advent. Its coming is unattended with any de- 

 monstration. Silently it arrives and as quietly 

 retires. We have occasionally discovered its pres- 

 ence as early as the i5th of October, when the 

 weather has been unusually severe, but its arrival is 

 most generally in the month of November. 



During the early part of its stay it frequents 

 low meadows, open fields, and the borders of 

 forests. But when the weather becomes more 

 rigorous and the ground is covered with snow, 

 impelled by hunger it seeks the abodes of man, 

 when it becomes extremely familiar and obtrusive, 

 and our yards and gardens are places of daily visita- 

 tions for the crumbs and scraps which are thrown 

 away by the cook. It becomes on familiar terms 

 with the poultry and share their cracked corn and 

 broom-seed. During the autumnal months the 

 berries of Juniperus Virginiana^ Viburnum Lcu- 

 tago, and seeds of Ambrosia artcniisitffolia, CJicno- 

 podinm alburn, C. anthelminticum, Panicuin, Aira, 

 Calamagrostis, are favorite articles of diet. 

 Whereas in the winter it has a decided preference 

 for the seeds of Amarantus albus, A. paniculatus 

 Chenopodiuin album ',and Raphanus sativus ; and the 

 eggs and images of Cratonychiis cinereus, C. per- 

 tinax, and other beetles. During its vernal stay 

 it devours with seeming relish the stamens and 

 pistils of Acer rubrniii, A. saccharinum, and others. 

 An examination of the stomachs of several individ- 



