128 BIRDS OF THE PUBLIC GARDEN 



these occasions snow had fallen the pre- 

 vious day, leaving some deposit of slush 

 on the ground, but less had remained on 

 the bottom of the pond, and it was less 

 chilled with frost. Consequently in the 

 generally unfavorable conditions of wea- 

 ther for the sparrows to obtain their food 

 they had chosen an area presenting fewer 

 difficulties and doubtless holding many 

 seeds which had been blown in by the 

 winds. On the day after each of these large 

 visitations only about ten Fox Sparrows 

 remained. Some individuals often remain 

 several days. A flock of two hundred and 

 fifty robins, as they were estimated, on the 

 second occasion was round about in many 

 bunches, cackling and singing. The mini- 

 mum temperature of the morning in both in- 

 stances was 30°. The sky remained clouded 

 each time from the storm of the previous 

 day. Therefore these great flights of the 

 earlier migrant species took place under 

 cold and stormy conditions, when it is not 

 expected that such migration movements 

 will occur. The extensive migration of the 



