^'°189("''] PROCEEDINGS OF THE J^ATIONAL MUSEUM. 587 



this country it finds neither thistles nor orchards, so it feeds largely 

 on the seed of the prairie sunflower {Rudbechia hlrta) and Gaillardia 

 {G.jiiilcheUa), aud nests in the low poplars and oakson the edges of the 

 heavier timber. 



About the end of August they gather into roving bands of both 

 sexes and feast on the now abundant supply of sunflower seed; about 

 the 10th of September they disappear. 



181. Spinus pinus. Piue Siskin. Pine Linnet. 



An irregular migrant. Winnipeg: During June it is found along the 

 Red River in hundreds (Hine). 1890: Rare and irregular visitant ; I 

 saw two or three flocks near the Red River in September and October, 

 1880 (Nash). Carberry: Irregular spring and fall migrant; not com- 

 mon (Thompson). In Minnesota observ^ed in great numbers in the fall ; 

 migrates south in winter (Trippe). 



On December 5, 1883, at spruce bush, saw a large flock of small birds 

 swoop on the top of a birch tree, then an instant later sweep ofl" again 

 and wheel ofl" twittering into the woods. 1 took them for Pine Linnets. 



182. Plectrophenax nivalis. Snow-llnko. Snow Bunting. Snowbird. 



Very abundant early spring; fall and winter residents. Winnipeg : 

 Very abundant winter visitant; seen as late as June 10 (Hine). Red 

 River Settlement in winter (Blakistou). Swami)y Island : 188.5, first 

 seen, two, on April 4; next seen April 13 ; last seen May 1 ; is tolerably 

 common in fall anu spring ; does not breed ; first seen in fall, twenty, 

 on October 12; atter this it became common; 1880, first seen, eight, on 

 March 20; bulk arrived April 8; last seen, April 18 (Plunkettj. Shell 

 Lake: 1885; winter visitor (Calcutt). Portage la Prairie: Abundant 

 winter resident; arrives about October 10; departs usually about the 

 middle of April (Nash). Manitoba House, 18th October, 18.j8, snow- 

 birds were flying about the post in large flocks (Hind). Abundant on 

 the prairies between Brandon and Fort Ellice in October, 1881 (Ma- 

 coun). Carberry : Abundant from November 1 to April 30, or usually 

 as long as there is any snow (Thompson). Qu'Appelle: Common win- 

 ter visitor; leaves about May 10 (Guernsey). Severn House, Trout 

 Lake Station : Only goes to the south when the snow becomes deep 

 (Murray). 



Dauphiu Lake, October 7, 1858, snowbirds were seeu for the first 

 time during the afternoon. They came about our camp in large flocks, 

 but they did not appear to have quite assumed their winter dress. 



In Manitoba, perhaps more than in any of our souihern provinces, the 

 hardihood of this most hardy bird may best be seen. As soon as the 

 snow falls the snowbird appears in force, and all winter long he con- 

 tinues to twitter cheerily about the cheerless outbuildings and forage 

 among the litter of the barnyards. The snow comes deeper and the 

 weather gets colder, till the thermometer seems settled to sleep away 



