220 BIRDS IN LEGEND 



vinces us that an unusually early arrival of migratory 

 birds from the north indicates an extra cold winter to fol- 

 low. Several northwestern sayings about ducks and geese 

 tell us that whenever they leave Lake Superior noticeably 

 earlier than is their wont; or fly southward straight and 

 fast, not lingering near accustomed halting-places, then 

 a severe season is to be anticipated. In the sum this is 

 logical, for this reason: 



Birds whose home is in the far North — and several 

 species go to the extreme limit of arctic lands to make 

 their nests — must quit those desolate coasts as soon as 

 chilling rains, snow-storms, and frost begin to kill the 

 insects, bury the plants and freeze the streams, thus cut- 

 ting off food-supplies ; and they must keep ahead of those 

 famine-producing conditions as they travel southward 

 toward their winter-resorts in a more hospitable zone. 

 On the average, their arrival in the United States will be 

 nearly on the same date year after year. 



It sometimes happens, however, that winter will pounce 

 upon the arctic border of the continent days or weeks 

 earlier than usual, and the cold and snowfall will exceed 

 the normal quantity. In such circumstances the birds 

 must make their escape more hastily than ordinarily, and 

 will come down across the Canadian border in larger and 

 more hurrying companies, very likely accompanied by 

 such species as snow-birds, crossbills, pine finches and 

 evening grosbeaks, which in general pass the winter some- 

 what to the north of our boundary. Excessive cold in 

 the far North is almost certain to influence southern 

 Canada and the northern states, and it is therefore safe 

 to conclude, when we witness this behavior of migratory 

 birds, that a winter of exceptional severity has set in at 

 the north and is in store for us. But the prophets are 



