SIALIA ARCTIGA. 405 



bird or its western representative, being at all times, according to our expe- 

 rience, a rather difficult bird to procure. In the fall, they rove about in 

 restless companies over the barren slopes, scattering among the low cedars, 

 only the straggling or lingering individuals permitting a near approach. 

 Their manners during the winter season are most interesting to witness, for 

 they seem to enjoy the playing of the snow-flakes, as they hover in the air 

 over some object on the ground which attracts their attention; then, after 

 alighting to examine it more closely, they flit ofi" to a tall weed-stalk, 

 never thinking, apparently, to enter the cosy copses where the Snow- 

 birds have taken refuge. 



A subject of interesting and profitalile speculation is the influence of 

 spreading civilization n]X>n tlie hai)its of animals in their native haunts. 

 In all well-settled districts, the Purple IMartins, tlie Barn Swallows, and 

 the Chimney Swifts have forsaken the hollow trees and caves as nesting- 

 places, and availed themselves of the superior accommodations and pro- 

 tection afibrded by civilized man and his surroundings, with a readiness 

 that is indeed remarkable. The Blue-birds and certain Wrens, even in 

 the most recently-settled sections of the country, are gradually, but 

 rapidly, making the same revolution in their habits, and so are many others 

 of our native birds, too numerous to mention; and every one knows how 

 the Cliff Swallows have abandoned the precipices of mountainous districts 

 and overspread the entire country, even to places remote hundreds of miles 

 from the original haunts of the species, when they discovered how well 

 suited for their nests were the eaves of barns and chm-ches. The present 

 species is one of this class whose habits are undergoing such modification, 

 for although it is naturally a bird of the high mountains, we noticed that 

 at Salt Lake City they were quite numerous, although, were the locality 

 unreclaimed fi'om its ]Drimitive state, they would not have been found there 

 except during their vertical migrations, influenced by changes in the climate. 

 Even on Antelope Island, in the Great Salt Lake, a few pairs were seen 

 about the buildings of the ranche. 



List of specimens. 



1!2S, i ud.; West Humboldt Mountiiius, Nevada, October i, 1867. 7f^— 14— 5— 

 ,l|_j_i|_3i— 1,T^. Bill, deep black; interior of mouth, light naples-yellow ; iris, 

 hazel; tarsi and toes, black. 



