302 NOTES ON NEW ENGLAND BIRDS 



and incessant jingling and twittering chill-lill-Ull, so 

 that it is difficult to distinguish a single bird's note, — 

 parts of it much like a canary. This sound advances me 

 furthest toward summer, unless it be the note of the 

 lark, who, by the way, is the most steady singer at pre- 

 sent. Notwithstanding the raw and windy mornings, it 

 will sit on a low twig or tussock or pile of manure in the 

 meadow and sing for hours, as sweetly and plaintively 

 as in summer. 



March 28, 1853. The woods ring with the cheerful 

 jingle of the F. hyemalis. This is a very trig and com- 

 pact little bird, and appears to be in good condition. 

 The straight edge of slate on their breasts contrasts re- 

 markably with the white from beneath ; the short, light- 

 colored bill is also very conspicuous amid the dark slate ; 

 and when they fly from you, the two white feathers in 

 their tails are very distinct at a good distance. They are 

 very lively, pursuing each other from bush to bush. 



Dec. 1, 1856. Slate-colored snowbirds flit before me 

 in the path, feeding on the seeds on the snow, the count- 

 less little brown seeds that begin to be scattered over 

 the snow, so much the more obvious to bird and beast. 

 A hundred kinds of indigenous grain are harvested now, 

 broadcast upon the surface of the snow. Thus at a crit- 

 ical season these seeds are shaken down on to a clean 

 white napkin, unmixed with dirt and rubbish, and ofP 

 this the little pensioners pick them. Their clean table is 

 thus spread a few inches or feet above the ground. Will 

 wonder become extinct in me ? Shall I become insen- 

 sible as a fungus ? 



Oct. 26, 1857. At the hewing-place on the flat above, 



