Snowflake SONG-BIRDS. 



Season : An erratic winter visitor. Late October to March and early 

 April. 



Breeds : Mostly north of the United States, and in the Rocky Moun- 

 tain region. Casually in northern New England and New York 

 State. 



Nest: Rare, high in evergreens, principally. 



IJggs : Light green, spotted with brown. 



liange : North America generally, in winter south to the Gulf States 

 and Mexico. 



The Pine Siskin, as its name implies, is a lover of ever- 

 greens, and spends the winter in roving from copse to copse. 

 It is strictly a seed-eater, and consumes alike the kernels of 

 large cones and the seeds of low herbs. It has the dipping 

 flight of the Goldfinch, and many other characteristics of 

 the two birds are similar. You will be most likely to iden- 

 tify the Pine Siskin as it clings to tufts of spruce cones, 

 peering between their scales ; the sulphur-yellow tinge of 

 the feathers showing plainly against the deep green. 



Dr. Jonathan Dwight, Jr., who heard these Siskins sing- 

 ing betAveen March 15, and May 2, at Rockaway and Cypress 

 Hills Cemetery, says that their song is a "soliloquizing 

 gabble, interspersed with a prolonged wheeze — a pro- 

 longation of their usual note while flying." Mr. Bicknell 

 adds : " This hoarse note sometimes sounds like a common 

 note of the English House Sparro^v. Before it was familiar 

 to me, it was with no little surprise that I heard at Big 

 jNIoose Lake, deep in the Adirondack wilderness, a bird note 

 so suggestive of city streets." 



SnoT^flake: Plectrophanes nivalis. 



Snow Buntwfj. 



Plate V. Fig. 9. 

 Length : 7 inches. 



Male and Female : Summer plumage white, with the exception of 

 black back, white-banded wings, tail, and band across back. 

 Winter plumage soft browns and white, — dead-leaf colours and 

 snow. Bill and feet black. 

 Sony : Thoreau says, "a soft, rippling note." 

 Season : A midwinter visitor, especially in snowy seasons. 



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