Natural History o/Qaiscalus major. 369 



States in winter * ; for while possibly a certain proportion of 

 the whole number of individuals may do so, all unquestionably 

 do not. We have no data for denying the affirmative here, but 

 are in position to affirm this negative. Thus, even in North 

 Carolina, not far from the northerly terminus of the species, it 

 IS a resident bird ; we have observed individuals in every month, 

 and, for the most part, at weekly or less intervals. Towards 

 December, however, there is a material and very evident falling 

 off in their numbers ; they do not become plentiful again until 

 the latter part of February ; and it is probable that, during an 

 especially cold season, they may disappear for a short time. The 

 weather, as affecting their means of subsistence, mainly deter- 

 mines their movements ; for, like all their allies, the Jackdaws 

 are true migrants, and there is always a north-south swaying of 

 the greater number of them in spring and. fall ; while, at the 

 same time, it is doubtful whether any localities within their 

 usual range are incapable of affording a supply of suitable food 

 at any season ; and this is what mainly or wholly determines 

 their presence or absence. 



Except at the approach of, and during, the breeding-season, 

 the sexes mostly keep in separate flocks, though they may often 

 be temporarily thrown together. The males appear to usually 

 follow the females and young birds in their migrations, more 

 j)articularly in passing southward in the fall. After the greater 

 number of individuals have left, many hardy males in fine plu- 

 mage may be seen for some time ; it is generally these that are 

 to be observed in winter in North Carolina. It might be ex- 

 pected that at the spring migration these more vigorous birds 

 would lead the van ; but, as a matter of fact, flocks of the 

 females, readily distinguished by their small size and brown 

 colour, are commonly the first indications of the coming north- 

 ward of the great body of the birds. 



"VVe have no occasion to give the description of a bird so well 



* Thus Bonaparte, for example : — " About the Ir^tter end of November 

 they leave even the warm region of Florida to seek winter-quarters further 

 south, probably in the West Indies." It is to be presumed that some of the 

 similar statements may have arisen from confounding the species with oue 

 of its near allies. 



2 d2 



