2 1 6 Birds of Oregon and Washington 



ing that the tail is sUghtly emarginate, that is, a 

 little divided in the centre of the extremity. The 

 size is about that of the Short-billed Gull, and 

 the color is not very different. The mantle is, 

 however, a deep pearl ; the rest of the plumage, 

 white ; and the hind part of the head and neck 

 are washed with gray, with a dark plumbeous 

 suffusion before and behind the eyes ; bill, yel- 

 low ; feet, blackish. 

 Winter resident. 



WINTER BIRDS. 



Some of our birds are " Winter Birds," either 

 because, nesting elsewhere, they are with us 

 only in winter and early spring, or because, in 

 that season, they are more about our homes. 



Amongst them are some of the most beauti- 

 ful, familiar and entertaining of any of the feath- 

 ered creatures that come to us. These are the 

 Junco, the Varied Thrush, To^^■nsend's Sparrow, 

 the Titlark, the Crossbills, the Redpoll and the 

 Snowflake. 



Each of these varieties may nest, more or 

 less, within our States, in higher altitudes or on 



