MAY. 167 



and he had to struggle to keep himself in the lower air : 

 he brings himself down to suck the flowers, then shoots away 

 with a springy lightness like an unincumbered balloon when 

 the cords are cut. It is more like the flight of a dragon-fly 

 than anything else, but much more buoyant. The first that 

 I ever saw were two males, that shot along just over my 

 head one day in July, soon after my arrival here. From the 

 peculiar character of their flight, and the sparkling brilliancy 

 of their colours, I took them for large and beautiful insects, 

 and it was not until I had seen more that I was convinced 

 of my mistake. 



C. I have seen many Scarlet Tanagers lately in the 

 ploughed fields and pastures ; yesterday they were very nu- 

 merous, particularly in the orchard ; there was scarcely a 

 moment in which we might not see three or four within a 

 few rods of each other. The Bob Lincolns are still more 

 abundant ; they sit on every fence, and utter their singular 

 cry in every direction. Crows have been occasionally seen 

 some time ; but I have heard for about a week a sound 

 from the summits of the forest, somewhat like their cawing, 

 but much more soft and musical. I followed the sound to 

 discover the authors, but could see nothing but crows not 

 perceptibly differing from the common species. 



F. It is the common Crow ( Corvus Corone) ; this 

 change in its usually harsh note, takes place periodically at 

 or rather just before the breeding season. They are selecting 

 their mates, and fixing on a spot to build in, the top of some 

 lofty elm or other tall forest tree. As soon as their nest is 

 built, they become totally silent, and continue so until their 

 young are flown, when they resume their usual mode of 

 cawing. This is one of the few species which are common to 

 both America and Europe. The Raven (Corvus CoraxJ 

 occasionally sails over our heads, as he appears to visit 

 nearly every country; but he is not a common sojourner with 



