The Birds' Calendar 



and rather dolorous chirp called my attention 

 to a song sparrow quietly jx^rching; but in that 

 cold winter's day there was no song in its 

 heart, and it was patiently biding its time. 

 Farther on I stumbled upon a catbird, which is 

 quite out of place here at this season. It was 

 too much occupied in picking over the dead 

 leaves in search of food to take much notice of 

 my intrusion ; but having sufficiently canvassed 

 the ground, it flew away, and I did not find an- 

 other till April. For those who may be un- 

 familiar with this degenerate scion of the no- 

 blest family of birds (the thrushes) it may be 

 remarked that it is a little shorter than the 

 robin, of a slate color, crown and tail black, 

 while the under tail -coverts (covering the base 

 of the tail) are chestnut-red. 



Another friend in the Park is a little speci- 

 men, common in winter from New England to 

 Florida, and so fearless as often to be found 

 about the houses and barns in the country — 

 the snow-bird, a trim and sprightly creature 

 about six inches long, dark slate above and on 

 the breast, which passes very abruptly into 

 white beneath, as if it were reflecting the leaden 

 skies above and the snow below. It is com- 

 monly seen on the ground, in shrubbery, or the 



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