Vo J'j.^ nl ] Widmann, Winter Home for Birds in Missouri. 217 



is spread over the floor of the forest, is much richer under these 

 treetops. 



Such is an" outline of the locality where numberless flocks of 

 several kinds of Fringillidae spend their winter in pleasing harmony 

 and apparently in the best possible state of mind and body. Even 

 when the rain is coming down in a continuous drizzle all day long 

 the birds in these woods are not only busy and active, but also 

 contented and happy ; and on a day, which to ordinary persons 

 seemed the gloomiest possible " we " and the birds were the 

 happiest crowd. 



Especially the Fox Sparrow {Passerella iliacd) deserves the 

 highest praise for exhibiting the most undisturbable good humor ; 

 all day long, and more than ever in the dusk of evening, his 

 melodious voice goes through the leafless woods. It is not their 

 full whistle, which we hear in spring, but enough of it to show how 

 happy they are and enough to make others happy, too. 



It is a common thing to see a couple of Peabody-birds (Zono- 

 trichia albicollis) take up the thread of musical notes where the 

 other lets it drop, hold it up for others who spin it out for quite a 

 while, "until the stentorian voice of Mr. Pipilo falls in and cuts it 

 short with his towhees. 



All these birds are never so cheerful where only a few are 

 together. They feel much safer and easier in a crowd, because 

 the trying work of constant vigilance is divided among so many, 

 and there is no doubt that they reallv enjoy the company of others 

 of their kind, and of birds with similar habits, though of different 

 genera, and even other families. 



The most abundant member of the Sparrow family in these 

 woods is undoubtedly the White-throated Sparrow or Peabody-bird. 

 It does not occur in small parties of half a dozen or so, as it does 

 in the counties bordering the Missouri River, 250 miles farther 

 north. Though there may be only a few chirps in the underbrush 

 when you pass by, enter, their recesses and you will see them rise 

 from all sides, and you may count 50 before you get through It 

 is a phlegmatic bird, not easily alarmed, and keeps sitting in the 

 trees and bushes to give you time for your arithmetic. The Fox 

 Sparrows are second in numbers and very often go up with the 

 White-throats, but as a rule they are more partial to moist ground. 



