I02 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



Kingfisher remain until the formino- of ice in November or early 

 December deprives them of food and forces them to seek open 

 water: while Woodcock and Snipe linger until they can no longer 

 probe the frost-hardened earth. The thaws of March, however, 

 will bring all these birds back to us by restoring their food. Cer- 

 tain Sparrows stay with us until the weed-bearing seeds on which 

 they feed are covered by snow, when they are compelled to retreat 

 farther southward, only to return, however, when the March sun 

 lays bare the earth. Few birds' songs are heard in November. In 

 some sheltered spot Song and White-throated Sparrows may con- 

 tinue in voice, but the characteristic bird-note of the month is the 

 scatter-call or fall whistle of Bob-White. 



BIRDS OF THE MONTH. 



Permanent Residents, see page 85. 

 Migrants leaving for the South. 

 Wood Duck. Cowbird. 



American Bittern. Red-winged Blackbird. 



Great Blue Heron. Purple Crackle. 



Woodcock. Vesper Sparrow. 



Mourning Dove. Chipping Sparrow. 



Belted Kingfisher. Field Sparrow. 



Swamp Sparrow. 



December Bird-Life. — The character of the bird-life of Decem- 

 ber depends largely upon the mildness or severity of the season. 

 Should the ponds and streams remain open, the ground be un- 

 frozen and little or no snow fall, many of the migrant species of 

 November will linger into December. 



The comparative scarcity of food now forces birds to forage 

 actively for provisions, and when a supply is found, they are apt 

 to remain until it is exhausted. Their wanderings in search of 

 food lead them over large areas, and our dooryards and orchards 

 may often be visited by species which, v^hen food is more abun- 

 dant, do not leave their woodland haimts. An excellent means of 

 attracting them is to provide suitable food. Crumbs and seeds 

 scattered in some place where they will not be covered by snow or 

 blown away will bring Juncos and Tree Sparrows; an old seed- 

 filled sunflower head may prove a feast for Goldfinches, while bits 

 of meat, suet or ham bone hung from a tree will be eagerly wel- 

 comed by Chickadees, Nuthatches and Downy Woodpeckers. 



BIRDS OF THE MONTH. 



Permanent Residents, see page 85. 

 Winter Residents, see page 88. 



