Interior of British North America. 77 



68. Spizella monticola. 



No sailor ever looked out more anxiously for the land than did 

 I, after the long and dreary winter spent at Fort Carlton, watch for 

 the arrival of the first harbinger of approaching spring. A few 

 days of mild weather (which set in before the middle of March) 

 having made considerable diminution in the depth of the snow 

 caused me to look out with more than usual anxiety ; and each 

 day I mounted a convenient eminence near the fort, telescope 

 in hand, in expectation of catching sight of some winged voyagers. 

 At last, on the loth, I was rewarded by the appearance of a 

 Hawk, which I took to be the Sparrow-Hawk, sailing along high 

 in the air ; but, as a fresh nor'-wester was blowing, he was soon 

 out of sight. I subsequently learned that, on the 14th, a White- 

 headed Eagle, and considerable flocks of small white birds, which 

 were doubtless Snow Buntings, had been seen by some buffalo- 

 hunters on the prairies between Fort Carlton and the south 

 branch of the Saskatchawan, where the snow had in many places 

 disappeared from the ground ; but, as I have before observed 

 when speaking of Plectrophanes nivalis, I believe that some of 

 these hardy birds remain in certain situations during the entire 

 winter, and we must consequently look upon them as winterers. 

 Waiting patiently for a few days, on the 18th I started out 

 after dinner with my gun, and took a track which led from the 

 fort across the plain to the south-east. The forenoon had been 

 overcast with the last touch of a north-easter, bringing its usual 

 accompaniment of snow ; but the wind having died away by 

 the middle of the day, the sun broke through and dispersed 

 nearly all the cloud, so that, although the thermometer was only 

 just up to the freezing-point, it was a delightful afternoon. 

 There was still sufficient snow on the ground to cause walking 

 to be awkward, but I laboured along in expectation of falling in 

 with something in the way of the Falcon tribe, for such birds are 

 said to be the first to make their appearance,- — which, by the by, 

 I have always thought rather curious ; for surely, if the Hawks 

 come, they must have some smaller birds to live upon, and I 

 fancy that if we searched diligently we should find them. 

 Having gone some distance, I turned homewards with the full 

 intention of inserting in my journal, " Not a single spring 



