34 OUU WINTER BIRDS. 



is abundant in our dee]) forests during the winter, and he conies 

 out to civilization during the summer, for he often nests here. 

 Its principal food is seeds of plants and trees, cones of spruce 

 and tir, buds, with occasional insect cocoons. They are lively, 

 chatty little fellows, and do not appear to mind the cold in the 

 least. The peculiarly constructed bill acts on the principle of 

 a double Avedge, and is admirably adapted for stripping the 

 cones of their leaves. They generally go in flocks and frequent 

 forests of scrub pines. 



The white- winged crossbill is of a more brilliant plumage, 

 but is rarer than its cousin, the red crossbill. Its food and hab- 

 itat are about the same, but it does not breed here as a rule, as 

 it seems to be a bird of more northern range. 



The redpoll is about the size of the sparrow. They arrive 

 here from the north in October, in flocks of several hundreds, at 

 which time they frequent the low woods skirting pastures, 

 streams and lakes. They live then on the seeds of alder, low 

 birch and cedar. They are quiet generally while feeding, and 

 rather timid in the autumn, but less so in the spring. They re- 

 tire further into the woods as winter comes on, and break up in- 

 to smaller flocks, but collect again in March and leave in April. 



The mealy redpoll resembles the other very much in its 

 habits, and is regarded by some as a mere variety of that bird. 



The pine linnet is frequently found in company with the 

 redpolls, and shares many of their habits. It often comes into 

 villages in August and September, and feeds on the seeds of 

 dandelions and thistles. They often gather about lumber camps 

 during the winter. They often summer here. Their song is 

 melodious and resembles that of the goldfinch. 



The snow-bunting afl'ects more the open country and the 

 shores of rivers and lakes. They are erratic in their habits, and 

 you may see great numbers of them for a few da\'s,and then none 

 at all for some time. They come about the last of October, and 

 leave in April. They are of a brown colour, when they first ai'- 

 rive, but change to their beautiful winter plumage as the season 

 advances. They appear to love the stormy and tem})estuous 

 weather. They live on the seeds of weeds and grasses and pas* 

 the night under the shelter of cliffs or banks, perched on dead 

 branches or projecting sticks. They alway;^ appear to be fat, 



