SPRING ARRIVAL OF THE BIRDS. 27 



upper mandible. The albicollis has a black crown with 

 white lateral lines, the black meeting at the back of the 

 head, and the white in front. Both have white bars 

 across the Avings. The albicollis has also a pure white 

 throat, with yellow on the edge of the wings, and also 

 bright yellow lines from the bill to the eye. The other 

 is without this brilliant yellow. These sparrows are 

 often found in company, both in the spring and fall 

 migrations. 



April S-i. — E'ot another sound in nature is so clear 

 and joyous, so full of cheer and hearty greeting, as that 

 of the highhole or golden-winged Avoodpecker {Colaptes 

 auratus). The call is a musical " ha ! ha ! ha ! " full of 

 laughter and good fellowship, a most friendly spring 

 greeting, in keeping Avith the pleasant April days in 

 Avhich one Avill first hear it. These few hearty notes 

 are something like the resonant call notes Avhicli we 

 first hear from the robin, and if not singing, these 

 utterances are as sweet as a song, and should entitle the 

 bird to be classed with the oscines. A few days later, 

 Avhen the preparations for housekeeping begin, these 

 birds have a more subdued laughter, just as joyous per- 

 haps, but less loud and boisterous. Sometimes two or 

 three couples of them will play " hide and seek " around 

 the branches or trunks of the trees, and say " yarrup, 

 wake up ; yarrup, Avake up," Avith a rapidity not easily 

 transcribed, indulging at the same time in much other 

 small talk understood only by themselves. Many times 

 I have lain under the trees Avatching their playful 



