60 IN THE HEMLOCKS. 



is almost metallic in its sharpness. He 

 breeds here, and is not esteemed a snow-bird 

 at all, as he disappears at the near approach 

 of winter, and returns again in spring, like 

 the song - sparrow, and is not in any way 

 associated with the cold and the snow. So 

 different are the habits of birds in different 

 localities. Even the crow does not winter 

 here, and is seldom seen after December or 

 before March. 



The snow-bird, or " black chipping-bird," 

 as it is known among the farmers, is the 

 finest architect of any of the ground-builders 

 known to me. The site of its nest is usually 

 some low bank by the roadside, near a wood. 

 In a slight excavation, with a partially con- 

 cealed entrance, the exquisite structure is 

 placed. Horse and cow hair are plentifully 

 used, imparting to the interior of the nest 

 great symmetry and firmness as well as soft- 

 ness. 



Passing down through the maple arches, 

 barely pausing to observe the antics of a trio 

 of squirrels, two gray ones and a black 

 one, I cross an ancient brush fence and 

 am fairly within the old hemlocks, and in 

 one of the most primitive, undisturbed nooks. 

 In the deep moss I tread as with muffled 



