232 LAND-BIRDS. 



ence of real or imaginary danger, to trees or shrubbery. They 

 hop quite nimbly on the ground, and while there constantly 

 open and shut their tails with rapidity. They occasionall}^ 

 scratch like the Fox-colored Sparrows, or by a quick backward 

 motion toss up the snow. I have seen them make passage- 

 ways in this manner to reach the wheat placed for them on a 

 stand, and such long ones that they disappeared in the re- 

 cesses. They are quarrelsome, and in them we may see feebly 

 reflected many of the human passions. They have, I believe, 

 a topographical instinct, as is indicated by the prompt collec- 

 tion of apparently the same individuals on the above-men- 

 tioned stand, after the first fall of snow, at the beginning of 

 two or three successive winters. They follow quite strictl}^, 

 except in autimm and spring, the snow-line, often rather dis- 

 appearing from Boston during the heavy thaws, and returning 

 just before or with the storms. They are said to be common 

 about Plymouth, New Hampshire, during the warm " spells," 

 though absent in cold weather. In March and April they be- 

 come rather shy, and are much among trees, such as the pines, 

 from the branches of which they utter a great variety of musi- 

 cal notes. As soon as the milder weather comes, they migrate 

 to the northward, and they are often scarce here in spring. 



They are sometimes affected by a faintness or dizziness, 

 which may apparently cause death, as I have several times 

 found them lying dead, without a feather ruffled, or without a 

 perceptible wound, with food abundant at the time. Once, 

 in walking through the woods, my attention was attracted by 

 the sound of some object falling, and, upon turning, I saw 

 upon the ground a Snow-bird lying on his back. When I 

 gently picked him up, he fluttered away to a branch, from 

 which he soon afterwards reeled and again fell. After a 

 brief chase, during which he flew feebly, usually alighting on 

 the ground, I captured him again. On being taken to my 

 room, he was for some while listless, but afterwards picked 

 up a few of the grains spread for him on the floor, though 

 he refused water. He soon began to fly about the room, 

 most often against the window-panes, and was finally allowed 

 to escape, when he perched in a bush, where half an hour 



