184 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [Vox. IIT, 
Then, for about a week, they nearly all disappeared. On the night of 
February 7th, snow fell heavily, and on the 8th great numbers of them 
appeared again in, and around the city. They now fed largely on the 
Mountain Ash berries, and for three or four days were almost as common 
in the suburban streets as the English Sparrow. 
This would be, according to Mr. MclIlwraith’s observations, the return. 
journey of the main body of the migrants. Most of them had left by 
February the roth, the very day on which the advance guard reached 
Hamilton. 
Some were seen at Lorne Park on February 15th, and flocks were 
occasionally seen near Toronto until the middle of May, but none of 
them, as far as I have heard, remained to breed in this district. 
Specimens were taken in Montreal at the end of January, and on 
February 5th. This is just the time, during which, they were absent 
from Toronto. 
THEIR APPEARANCE IN THE STATES. 
In the 1890 edition of the Birds of Pennsylvania, Mr. Warren says 
that they first appeared in that State on December 17th, 1889, and single 
birds, and small flocks, were seen until the middle of April, 1890. One 
flock, however, of about forty, remained at Montoursville, Lycoming Co., 
until the beginning of May. 
Early in April, says an observer, they appeared restless, and on April 
30th had separated into pairs, and seemed likely to build there, but were 
disturbed by a gunner, and all left on May rith. 
They were first seen in New Hampshire on January 4th; in Massa- 
chusetts January 8th; but are not recorded in Connecticut until the end 
of February. They seem to have entered the New England States vza 
the north shore of Lake Ontario, and remained in them until the end of 
March. 
THE CAUSE OF MIGRATION. 
Sir Charles Lyell, in the passages already quoted, gives two causes for 
their irregular migrations, viz.,an unusual increase in numbers, and an 
unusual scarcity of food. 
Our Dr. Brodie thinks that the migrations of the Pine Grosbeak are 
often caused by the freezing of rain on the forests where the birds usually 
obtain food. Everything being then coated with ice, it is difficult for 
them either to perch on the branches, or procure seeds, and they come 
south for food. 
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