86 



THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. 



the size and dark colour of the rudimentary wings on each 

 side of the thorax. Caddis Flies (Phryganece) may be seen 

 flying in the marshy woods on almost any fine day. 



F. I noticed a cluster of Agarics springing from the 

 dunghill, a few days ago : they are an ephemeral race, 

 " that come up in a night, and perish in a night ;" but some 

 of them possess great delicacy of form and beauty of colour : 

 these were, however, of a plain drab hue, but I noticed them 

 as symptoms of vegetative activity. 



C. What little birds are flocking about that apple-tree ? 

 they seem fond of company, for when one moves, they all 

 accompany it. 



F. It is the Yellow-bird, or American Goldfinch (Frin- 

 gilla Tristis), in its olive-coloured winter plumage : in this 

 state it is not very easy to distinguish them from others of 

 our finches, unless we approach pretty near them ; but their 

 flight in curves, sinking and rising, and their weak but not 

 unmusical song, are sufficient to identify them. When they 

 twitter all together, as they do now, it has a pleasing effect ; 

 their favourite note resembles the word "babee," the last 

 syllable protracted and much higher than the first. Though 

 this bird leaves our inhospitable climate in autumn, for the 

 sunnier regions of the south, yet I am not sure that indivi- 

 duals do not pass the winter with us. I have observed a 

 flock of them picking up oats and seeds around the homestead 

 as late as the 25th of December, and have noticed small flocks 

 twittering and chasing each other about the trees in the orchard 

 as early as the 19th of March. They will soon begin to 

 change, but it will be the middle of May before they attain 

 their gay summer dress. 



C. I have noticed Crows (Corvus CoroneJ flying over 

 the woods and fields for some days past ; and the other day 

 I roused a Ruffed Grouse (Tetrao Umbellus) on the borders 

 of the woods. 



