154 Twelve Months With 



September or early October, about any country or 

 suburban home. In the early morning these little 

 birds will be found very busily engaged in feeding, 

 for many of them have been journeying far by 

 night, and their tiny engines are much in need of 

 fuel to carry them over the next lap of the long 

 journey. The birds mentioned make but little 

 noise as they flit about in the trees or grass, save for 

 an occasional "chip!" or call note. Because of 

 their preoccupation in the arduous business of 

 feeding, the opportunities for observing them are 

 usually very favorable. Knowing they must be 

 here at this season the bird student will almost 

 invariably be rewarded for his pains, if he will but 

 go to their usual feeding places and seek them out. 

 . I have seen literally thousands of slate-colored 

 juncos this month scattered about everywhere, in 

 trees, shrubs and grass, and this year (1916) is no 

 exception to the rule as to the number of these 

 hardy little migrants. These birds are always seen 

 in flocks, except when breeding in the north, and 

 may be easily identified by their slate-colored 

 backs, dark heads and white outer tail feathers so 

 conspicuous in flight, and the flesh colored bill. 

 When disturbed they quickly make known their 

 displeasure by a sharp "check! check!" almost 

 staccato in quality, but when unmolested one more 

 often hears a rapidly uttered " chew-chew-cheiv," 

 indicating a very evident satisfaction with the won- 

 derful feeding grounds which they find here on 

 their way south. This little bird has little individ- 



