340 SINGING BIRDS. 



Eggs. 4-5 ; dull white, or tinted with green or buff, spotted chiefly 

 around larger end with reddish-brown and lilac; o.So X 0.60. 



This hardy and very numerous species, common to both 

 continents, pours in flocks from the northern regions into the 

 United States about the middle of October, where their ap- 

 pearance is looked upon as the presage of approaching winter. 

 At this season they migrate into the Southern States in great 

 numbers, and seem to arrive in augmenting hosts with the 

 progress of the wintry storms and driving snows, before which 

 they fly for food rather than shelter ; for even during the 

 descent of the whitening inundation, and while the tempest 

 still rages without abatement, these hardy and lonely w^ander- 

 ers are often seen flitting before the blast, and, seeking ad- 

 vantage from the sweeping current, descend to collect a scanty 

 pittance from the frozen and exposed ground, or stop to col- 

 lect the seeds which still remain upon the unshorn weeds 

 rising through the dreary waste. At such times they are also 

 frequently accompanied by the Snow Bunting, the humbly 

 dressed Yellow Bird, and the querulous Chickadee. Driven 

 to straits, however, by hunger, they at length become more 

 familiar, and are now seen about the barns and out-houses, 

 spreading themselves in busy groups over the yard, and even 

 approaching the steps of the door in towns and cities, and 

 gleaning thankfully from the threshold any crumbs or acci- 

 dental fragments of provision. Amidst all this threatening and 

 star\'ing weather, which they encounter almost alone, they are 

 still lively, active, and familiar. The roads, presenting an 

 accidental resource of food for these northern swarms, are con- 

 sequently more frequented by them than the fields. Before the 

 severity of the season commences, they are usually only seen 

 moving in families ; and the parents, watchful for the common 

 safety, still continue by reiterated chirpings to warn their full- 

 grown brood of every approach of danger, and, withdrawing 

 them from any suspicious observation, wander off to securer 

 ground. At this time they frequent the borders of woods, seek 

 through the thickets and among the fallen leaves for their 

 usual food of seeds and dormant insects or their lar\'?e. Their 



