14 GRANIVOROUS BIRDS. 



of the polar regions, and remain with us 

 during the whole of the winter. Those of 

 the tender kind reside in this state a short 

 period; reaching us early in May, spending 

 with us only the season of song and incu- 

 bation, and then departing early in the 

 Autumn for the more congenial tempera- 

 ture of Mexico and the West India isles. 

 The food of this order consists princi- 

 pally of seeds and small grain, that are 

 always shelled before swallowing; but in 

 the time of incubation, entirely of insects 

 a fare the easiest to be procured at that 

 period, since but few of the earlier and 

 rarer species of plants have then perfected 

 their seed-vessels. It is, besides, more 

 suitable for the sustenance and nourish- 

 ment of their tender and delicate young. 

 These would be unable at that immature 

 season to receive and retain nourishment 

 so harsh and difficult of digestion, though 

 at a later portion of their lives such food 

 is better suited to sustain existence. How- 

 ever, seeds of all kinds at all times will 



