1904] The Winter Fringillid^ of New Brunswick. 169 



a^e, and as he performs in her presence with out-spread wing-s 

 and tail, he is truly a beautiful little bird. 



Snow Bunting. Plectroplienax nivalis. 



This is the most easily recog".iized of any of our Fringilhdce 

 of either summer or winter. Their food consists ot seeds of weeds 

 and grasses, of which they get an abundant supply in haystacks. 

 It is alleg"ed by some writers that snow buntings never perch on 

 trees, but it is not uncommon to see them resting upon trees when 

 not feeding, and I have observed them perched upon telegraph 

 wires. Near our house is a spring stream that stays open all 

 winter. One day four snow buntings were observed to come and 

 bathe in the stream. They fluttered and splashed in thi water as 

 we often see birds do in summer, and then as if to dry their 

 plumage they fluttered into the loose snow along the stream, 

 worKing their way into the drifts until nearly buried. The whole 

 performance occupied about five minutes. To one of us it would 

 have been five minutes too long, as the temperature was several 

 degrees below freezing and the snow was blowing along very 

 freely. 

 Tree Sparrow. Spizella nionticola. 



This species is most common along river valley roads that are 

 ringed with thickets of bushes. Seldom more than two or three 

 are seen in one company. They are not common in winter in this 

 section. 



Slate-colored Junco. Junco hyemalis. 



A few individuals of this species are apt to remain with us 

 throughout the winter. Their stay is probably regulated by the 

 food supply. They evidently feed upon seeds taken off" the ground 

 or from low weeds. 



Song Sparrow. Melospisa fasciata. 



It was another surprise to learn that this species also occa- 

 sionally remains with us all winter. They are not rare along the 

 southern coast in mild winters, but until the last two winters no 

 record was known of their presence in the interior of the province. 

 The last two winters some have stayed near here. They lived 

 about a grist mill, and were supplied with food by the miller, who 

 threw out foul seeds to them. 



