114 KRIDER'S SPORTING ANECDOTES. 



whole lower parts, dull yellow; bill, reddish 

 flesh color; legs and eyes as in the male. 

 The young birds retain the dress of the female 

 until the early part of the succeeding spring; 

 the plumage of the female undergoes no ma- 

 terial change of color." 



We have nothing new to say of this well- 

 known and delicious bird. It visits this part of 

 the state early in May, when the song of the 

 males is heard in every meadow. 



Such was the impression made upon us, last 

 spring, by the sweet, tinkling notes which pro- 

 ceeded from a large flock perched on a willow 

 tree, that although in search of specimens at the 

 moment, we took the gun from our shoulder 

 and forbore to shoot. The actions of the male 

 while singing reminded us somewhat of those 

 of the canary. The notes are tiny and delicate, 

 like those of a small musical-box, but extremely 

 rapid, short and varied, and very expressive of 

 an etherial lightness of spirit. If the listener 

 closes his eyes for a moment, he might almost 

 imagine the presence of some fairy beings, ca- 

 rolling in the air to the praise of the new-born 

 May. In an instant, however, the concert ceases, 

 and, opening your eyes, perhaps you see the 

 whole flock in the act of alighting on the ground. 



