OF NEW ENGLAND. 251 



Massachusetts in February, and even exceptionally to have 

 passed the winter here. Ordinarily, however, they appear in 

 March, though with no great regularity, the males preceding 

 the females ; and previously to mating, which occurs about the 

 first of May, they are more or less gregarious. During the 

 period of arrival, they may be observed flying at a considerable 

 height in the air, and often uttering their loud chuck, though 

 sometimes silent. Later in the season, they visit ploughed 

 lands and fields, to obtain whatever suitable food they can find, 

 walking over the ground in search of it, and, when frightened, 

 betaking themselves to the nearest trees, where they frequently 

 cluster in large numbers. They roost at night in bushy mead- 

 ows and in swamps. When the weather permits, they frequent 

 these by day, and also the open meadows, from which their 

 notes are constantly heard. They soon mate, and in May 

 begin to build their nests. At this time there is always more 

 or less commotion in the communities which they usually form, 

 and they constantly fly back and forth, frequently chattering. 

 This is particularly the case with the males, who often perch 

 upon some tree to sing or whistle, and who consequently make 

 much noise about their family-cares. They are certainly most 

 devoted parents, and often defend their nests bravely, even 

 when intruded upon by man. In July they become gregarious, 

 some flying southward, arid in the early part of autumn they 

 desert the inland meadows, resorting to their various feeding- 

 grounds. " In the salt marshes, or near the sea, they collect 

 in large flocks, which not unfrequently contain more than a 

 thousand individuals." Hawks, farmers, and unambitious 

 sportsmen, diminish their numbers in a certain measure, but 

 not, I suppose, very appreciably. The u Red-wings" fly rapidly 

 and strongly ; moving their wings with more swiftness but less 

 regularity than the Crows. When perching, they often flirt 

 their tails. Owing to the nature of their haunts, rather than 

 to any natural shyness, they are not easily approached very 

 closely. / 



(d). Their ordinary note is a loud, mellow chuck, or some- 

 times check. The variety of sounds, however, which they 



