A PUZZLE IN BIRDS 



comes a winter when various birds from the far North 

 visit us in good numbers, and notably the species in 

 this first group of the finch family. Deep snow which 

 covers up the tops of the weeds with their load of seeds, 

 the failure of the spruces and other evergreens to bear 

 cones, or both these events in conjunction, drive them 

 south to us. When I was a boy, the winter of 1882-3 

 first introduced me to ':hese Northern visitors. I was 

 out after them at every possible opportunity and what 

 an exciting time I did have! 



As early as October the Pine Siskins arrived. They 

 are closely related to the Goldfinch, but are easy to 

 tell from them because they are streaked all over. I 

 was out hunting partridge and woodcock, when, in an 

 opening in the woods, I saw a very large flock of these 

 birds, then nev/ to me, alight on an isolated tree, fairly 

 covering the branches. Trembling with excitement, I 

 fired into the midst of them and am ashamed to tell 

 now the number I killed. I have never seen so many 

 together since, but have met them at various times^ usu- 

 ally along roadsides, or in woods where there were 

 birches or hemlocks. They seemed to be very fond of 

 the birch buds. Years later, in northern Nova Scotia, 

 I found them in June on their nesting grounds. In the 

 shade trees along the streets of Pictou, I saw them and 

 heard them singing prettily — Northern Canary Birds, 

 one might call them, for they and the Goldfinch are 

 closely related to the Canary. 



In November the beautiful little Redpolls put in 



158 



