Voj-g^^IXJ General Notes. 20I 



few short notes in place of the long flowing song of the full plumaged 

 adult male. 



Their food, after arriving in spring, is buds of various trees, the favorite 

 being the poplar and the balsamy buds of the fir ; later insects are added 

 to the bill of fare. Although arriving earlj from the south the nesting 

 season is deferred till after the middle of June. 



Passer domesticus. English Sparrow. — This species lives in winter 

 in towns and villages, the families which are raised throughout the 

 country in summer flocking to their winter quarters during October. 



Loxia leucoptera. Wiiitk-winged Crossbill. — This species may be 

 termed a rare winter visitor in the vicinity of Fredericton, yet they are 

 known to live in summer in the northern highlands of this province. 

 They feed upon the seeds of spruce, black alder and birch. The song, 

 which is much like the song of the Purple Finch, is poured forth while 

 the bird is on the wing, and also while the bird is at rest. During the 

 winter of 1S99-1900 this species was common here. 



Acanthis hornemannii exilipes. Hoary Redpoll. — This species has 

 been taken at Peticodiac, in the eastern corner of New Brunswick, and 

 is considered very rare. 



Acanthis linaria. Redpoll. — Both sexes of the Redpoll are much 

 alike, the males being distinguished by the pink tinge on the feathers of 

 the breast. They are very lively little birds, and seem to be cheerful in 

 sunshine or storm. They feed on weed seeds as long as any weeds remain 

 above the snow. The seeds of various trees are also eaten, such as those 

 of the black alder and yellow birch. The writer has had the experience of 

 watching Redpolls feed on seeds put out for them. They Avould feed for 

 several hours daily, and would take fifty seeds per minute. So erratic are 

 these birds in their choice of a winter home, that one winter they may be 

 abundant with us and not be seen again for years, or they may appear in 

 autumn, pass on, and not be here again till the next winter. 



Spinus tristis. American Goldfinch. — During the winter of 1900-01 

 Goldfinches were observed here February 15, a very unusual occurrence, 

 the general time of arrival being in the month of May. 



Spinus pinus. Pine Finch. — This species, like the Redpolls, is so 

 erratic in movements, that one can never know whether or not it will 

 occur during the winter season, yet it is during the winter that we are 

 most sure of its presence. They feed largely upon the fruit of the yellow 

 birch and cedar. 



Plectrophenax nivalis. Snow Bunting. — This is the most easily 

 recognized of any of our Fringillid?e of either summer or winter. Their 

 food consists of seeds of weeds and grasses, of which they get an abundant 

 supply on haystacks. They are most abundant along river \alleys. It 

 has been alleged by some writers that Snow Buntings never perch on 

 trees, but it is not uncommon to see them resting on trees when not 

 feeding. 



Spizella monticola. Tree Sparrow. — This is our only winter sparrow, 



