Slate-colored Junco 383 



"Although the Snow-birds live in little families, consisting of 

 twenty, thirty, or more individuals, they seem always inclined to keep 

 up a certain degree of etiquette among themselves, and will not suffer 

 one of their kind, or indeed any other bird, to come into immediate 

 contact with them. To prevent intrusions of this kind, when a 

 stranger comes too near, their little bills are instantly opened, their 

 wings are extended, their eyes are seen to sparkle, and they emit a 

 repelling sound peculiar to themselves on such occasions. 



"They are aware of the advantages to be derived by them from 

 larger birds scratching the earth, and in some degree keep company 

 with Partridges, Wild Turkeys, and even Squirrels, for the purpose 

 of picking up such food as these animals may deem beneath their 

 notice. This habit is more easily observed in those 

 which frequent the farm-yards, where the domestic Likes Company 

 fowls prove regular purveyors to them. The report 

 of a gun, or the unexpected barking of a dog, causes the little flock to 

 rise and perch either on the fences or an adjoining tree, where, how- 

 ever, they remain only for a few minutes, after which they return to 

 their avocations. They are particularly fond of grass-seeds, to procure 

 which they often leap up from the ground, and dexterously seize the 

 bending panicles. 



"It is a true hopping bird, and performs its little leaps without the 

 least appearance of moving either feet or legs, in which circumstance 

 it resembles the Sparrows. Another of its habits, also indicative of 

 affinity to these birds, is its resorting at night, during cold weather, 

 to stacks of corn or hay, in which it forms a hole that affords a snug 

 retreat during the continuance of such weather, or its recurrence 

 through the winter. In fine weather, however, it prefers the ever 

 green foliage of the holly, the cedar or low pines, among which to 

 roost. Its flight is easy, and as spring approaches, the males chase 

 each other on wing, when their tails being fully expanded, the white 

 and black colors displayed in them present a quite remarkable contrast. 



"The migration of these birds is performed by night, as they are 

 seen in a district one day, and have disappeared the 

 next. Early in March, the Snow-bird is scarcely to 

 be seen in Louisiana, but may be followed, as the 

 season advances, retreating towards the mountains of the middle dis- 

 tricts, where many remain during the summer and breed." 



Near the close of Audubon's narrative he makes this significant 

 statement : 



"Their flesh is extremely delicate and juicy, and on this account 

 small strings of them are frequently seen in the New Orleans market, 

 during the short period of their sojourn in that district." 



This of course was written many years before the Audubon Law, 

 which protects these birds, was enacted by the Legislature of 

 Louisiana. 



The Junco passes the winter in suitable localities throughout eastern 

 United States from the Gulf of Mexico on the south to southern Can- 



