THE SNOW BIRD 129 



within fifty feet dropped into the snow. The jay was close 

 upon it, when I threw up the window, waving my paper 

 and loudly shouting a remonstrance. The jay paid no 

 heed but pounced upon his intended victim. Springing 

 out of the door I ran floundering through the snow, halloo- 

 ing as I went. The snowbird managed to escape, but its 

 weak wings soon gave way and again it dropped. The jay 

 alighted near and gave it a vicious peck, but I was on the 

 scene by this time, and before the blow could be repeated 

 had interfered. The jay retreated a few yards and stood 

 in the snow defiantly watching me. I strongly urged him 

 to leave the country, and emphasized my remarks by 

 throwing snow balls at his head. I had failed to notice 

 where the snowbird went, and so, when the jay had re- 

 treated, was unable to locate my pet. It did not return 

 again to its roost in the brick wall. 



In the early spring snowbirds begin to sing. The song 

 is little more than a trill repeated over and over with 

 pleasant monotony ; but coming, as it does, when few birds 

 are singing, and issuing from such a nice, gentle bird, the 

 few notes are very pleasing to hear. My notebook shows 

 me that the first one I heard trilling this year was on 

 March first. The birds sang nearly every day after that 

 and on the twenty-fifth a dozen or more were heard at one 



