OUR WINTER BIRDS. 129 
These same outrageous English sparrows are the most con- 
spicuous, really, of all our January birds. They are spread- 
ing widely through the suburbs of the city, especially be- 
tween here and Philadelphia; and I am sorry to see it, for 
they are uncompromising enemies to all our native birds. 
It would lead me to far overstep the reasonable limits 
of this essay if I attempted to extend to all the winter 
birds even the brief sketch I have given of some of the 
woodland species. A mere mention must sufiice. 
Some birds besides those already noticed are residents 
with us the year round: thus a few robins, bluebirds, crows, 
bluejays, cedar-birds, kingfishers, flickers, blackbirds, pur- 
ple finches, wild pigeons, quails, grouse, and woodcocks, are 
always likely to be found in the neighborhood of New 
York in January; while one or two of the arctic wood- 
peckers, the Canada jay, the waxwing, and some other rari- 
ties, may be met with at long intervals. Of the birds of 
prey, we have in greater or less numbers this. month the 
golden and bald eagles (about the Palisades), an occasional 
osprey, the rough-legged, red-shouldered, and red-tailed 
buzzards, the marsh-harrier, and some others; and, among 
owls, the fierce snowy owl, which will take a grouse from 
its roost, or carry off a hare; the barred, great horned, long- 
eared, short-eared, mottled, and little saw-whet owls. Along 
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