82 • AMERICAN ORXITHOLOGY. 



THE COMING OF THE BLUEBIRD. 



For months we have been snowbound, and our favorite woods, 

 where, last summer, we trod the soft moss carpet amid ferns and 

 green leaves and to the accompaniment of myriads of bird voices, have 

 been buried under two feet of dazzling whiteness from which the tree 

 trunks protrude like gaunt spectres. Everywhere is - - silence, broken 

 only at intervals by the coarse cawing of Crows, the harsh scream of 

 the Jay, and the plaintive calls of the few small birds that are brave 

 enough to face the rigor of a New England winter, notable Chickadees, 

 Kinglets, Crossbills, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, and, occasionally 

 a Robin, that in its devotion to its home-land, shows more courage 

 than wisdom. It has always been a mystery how small birds could 

 stand zero weather for days and weeks at a time, and, even though 

 they are capable of withstanding such cold, why they should do it 

 preferance when they have the ability to go to a land of sunshine and 

 plenty. Undoubtedly a large percentage of our resident birds perish 

 every year from lack of food and severe cold and one, the Bob White, 

 is almost exterminated from New England, notwithstanding the fact 

 that thousands of western birds have been liberated in hopes of 

 replenishing the depleted covers; while large numbers cf these have 

 met their end at the hands of gunners, most of them are victims of 

 snow and ice storms and continued cold, during the winter, and wet 

 weather during the nesting season. 



Now comes the longed-for season — Spring. All eyes are strained to 

 catch the first glimpse of blue; all ears alert for the first glad carol of 

 the Bluebird, that forerunner of the myriads of birds soon to start 

 northward. It is strange with what accuracy birds can reckon time; 

 what should cause our Bluebird, basking in the sunny land of the 

 Bermudas or the Antilles, to, on a certain day, start on his long journey 

 northward? Some instinct, more subtle than we kninv prompts them, 

 for they arrive in the land of their birth with remarkable regularity. 

 In this county the earliest date that we have record of their positive 

 arrival is February 14th., while the latest is ]\Iarch 10th. 



The first few weeks they spend in renewing old acquaintances.. 

 Each bush and stone and tree is examined with the same enthusiasm 

 that is displayed by a man visiting the scenes of his childhood, but 

 probably from a dilTerent motive, for fcod is very scarce at this time 

 of the year and they must thoroughly examine every crevice if they 

 are to obtain their daily fare. 



All birds are proud and our Bluebird is no exception. It is his 

 delight to parade before his chosen mate and, with drooping and 



