496 



NORTH AJ.IERICAN BIRDS. 



himself boldly on the top of a plaut, as if to be more plainly heard by his 

 compauioijs. Iii early spring they feed on the catkins of the alder and 

 hazel. They winter in small flocks in ^'ancouver's Island. 



Holboll states tliat this species is found irregularly distributed over Green- 

 land, coming always in the first half of April, a little later than the Snow- 

 Buutinu'. It migrates to Greenland from America, and is much rarer in Ice- 

 land. In June it is found nesting near the shore, and, contrary to the usual 

 nature of birds, is very wild, though at all times else it is very fearless. At 

 this time the male loses its beautiful crimson breast, resembles the female, 

 and is much less gorgeous than in winter. It nests in birches, alders, or 

 wiUows, and lays five bluish-wliite eggs, spotted with clear brown.' Towards 

 the end of August and in September tliey are seen in small flocks about the 

 settlements, the male resuming its red breast, and all, botli old and young, 

 being very fearless. In confinement they soon became very tame, and in a 

 few days would perch u[)on his liand and struggle with eacli other for tlie 

 hemp-seed that he lield to tliem, thougli there ^\■as plenty of food in their 

 cage. They feed on seeds and the tops of lichens. By October they all 

 disappear, and are not seen in Greenland in the winter. 



Wilson states that, in liis day, these birds were very common in North- 

 western New York, where they appeared always with tlie first deep snow, 

 and were, on that account, calleil Snow-Birds. In severe winters they were 

 occasionally, though very rarely, seen in the neighborhood of Philadelphia, 

 where they were very fond of the seeds of the common alder, and hung head 

 downwards while feeding, in the manner of our (ioldfinch. Tliey were very 

 unsuspicious, and permitted a near approach without manifesting any signs 

 of alarm. Mr. Ord, in a snbseijuent ethtion of Wilson, states that these 

 birds rarely visit riuladelphia, and that it was many years before he could 

 procure specimens. In the winter of 1813 -14 they appeared in a flock of 

 nearly a hundred, and were .so intent in feeding upon the seeds of the Atri- 

 plcc hastata that they could be closely approaclied. Their call exactly re- 

 sembled tliat of the Goldfinch. These birds lingered in that neighborhood 

 until about the middle of April. 



Their migration southward in winter is evidently caused more by want of 

 food than by the state of the temperature. They remain in high northern 

 regions in the most inclement weather, and often appear among us in seasons 

 not remarkably cold, and remain until late in the spring. In 1833, by the 

 7th of November, the weather still being quite mild, Nuttall states, they ajj- 

 peared in Massachusetts in considerable flocks. They regularly assembled in 

 the birch-trees every morning to feed on the seeds, and were so intent on 

 their employment that it was often possible to ajiproach the slender trees on 

 wliich tliey were feeding, and strike them off, liefore they would take wing. 

 They hung on the twigs with great tenacity, and moved about in reversed 

 positions, in the manner of the Chickadees. They are described by him as 

 having a quailing call, similar to that of the Goldfinch, and when crowding 



