114 



lar in these two birds, the grass-finch lacks the merry abandon that 

 characterizes the soiig-sparrow's song, but has instead a deeper 

 chord, which is called by some people sadness. The bird may be 

 easily recognized in the fields by the white tail-feathers, which 

 always show in flight. It is about the size and general color of the 

 song-sparrow. 



* 



* 



By the time the foregoing birds are comparatively common, and 

 the maple buds are burst and the lilacs swelHug, the gay purple 

 finch appears. He is not purple at all, but has a crimson head, 

 which fades on the lower breast through rosy pink into pure white. 

 He is fond of spruces and larches, feeding greedily on the tender 

 buds as well as on the ants and scale insects that infest them. Jlis 

 song is a fine one, and in addition to the charm of being poured 

 forth in full flight, is so long and intricate that one finds himself 

 holding his breath as the burst of melody continues, as if to help 

 the little fellow catch up with his music. 



* * * 



Along the banks of some lake or stream, sitting idly on a tele- 

 graph pole or wire, rising and settling, elevating and depressing his 



long parted top-knot, a patriarchal old 

 kingfisher may be seen silently await- 

 ing the gleam of a shiner in the water 

 below (Fig. 76). Or perhaps you may 

 first see him flying like a big wood- 

 pecker, screaming his chattering cry 

 high in the air, or scaling perilously 

 close to the water under the fringing 

 hemlock branches that overhang the 

 stream. His large size, slate-blue back, 

 loud notes and characteristic flight 

 make him a hard bird to mistake in any case. 



* -x- ^ 



There are many other birds which pass us on their way north, 

 but they rather herald the sumnier tlian the breaking of spring. 

 The following list of spring migrations is taken from Mr. Chapman's 



506 



76. — Kingfisher. 



