290 [November, 



Genus MFSCICAPA, Linn. 



MusciCAPA OLivACBA, Wils. Red-eyed Greentit. 

 These birds are so numerous, that a traveller through our woods is scarcely 

 ever out of the sound of their voices. 



MusciCAPA CANTATRix, Wils. White-eyed Fly-catcher. 



Very numerous. 



Genus SYLVIA. 



Sylvia solitaria, Wils. Yellow Warbler. 



Very common. 



Sylvia estiva. Blue-eyed Yellow Warbler. 



Quite numerous. 



Sylvia pensilis, Aud. Yellow-throated Warbler. 



Quite common. 



Sylvia maculosa, Aud. Black and Yellow Warbler. 



Not very numerous. 



Genus SIALIA, Swains. 



Sialia Wilsonii, Swains. The Common Blue Bird. 



This interesting and familiar bird is very numerous and remains with us the 

 whole year round. 



Genus PARUS, Linn. 



Parus atricapillus, Linn. Black-capped Chickadee. 

 This sprightly little bird is very common. 



Parus bicolob, Wils. Great-crested Chickadee. 

 Also numerous, but probably not so much so as the preceding species. 



Genus LANIUS, Linn. 

 Lanius excubitoroides. Swains. Gray Shrike. 

 Occasionally seen in autumn and winter. In Nov. 1854, whilst hunting for 

 quails, I saw a Butcher Bird, flying with a Goldfinch (Chrysomitris tristis) in 

 its talons. A short time afterwards, going in the direction which it flew, I dis- 

 covered it upon a small elm tree, having suspended the bird by sticking its neck 

 into the cleft of a split limb, and from which it was pulling ofl" pieces and eating 

 at its leisure. The idea instantly occurred to me that the habit this bird has of 

 sticking pieces of flesh and insects upon thorns and other sharp substances, 

 may be accounted for upon the ground that they do it as a matter of conveni- 

 ence in eating (saving the labor of holding them with their feet, which are rather 

 feeble,) and not for the purpose of decoying other birds, as many have supposed. 



Genus CYANOCORAX, Boie. 

 Cyanocobax cristatus, Linn. Blue Jay. 



Very numerous, and so tame that they very frequently build their nests in the 

 fruit trees and lilac bushes, in the town, close to our doors. 



Genus CORVUS, Linn. 

 CoRvus corax. The Raven. 



Formerly very numerous, but now exceedingly rare, so much so, that I have 

 seen but one for eight or nine years. 



CoRvus Americanus, Aud. American Crow. 



Quite numerous in warm weather, both winter and summer, but never seen 

 in times of extreme cold. 



