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species, and in open winters they remain with us in large num- 

 bers until the latter part of April. In severe weather the large 

 majority retire towards the South — though during the coldest 

 weather, even when the ground is covered with deep snow, the 

 trees loaded with ice, and scarcely a vestige of vegetation to be 

 seen, a few remain ; at such times they become quite tame, fre- 

 quent the door-yard, visit the out-buildings, attend the feeding of 

 the cattle for the purpose of collecting the scattered seed, and 

 in addition to their scanty subsistence, approach the threshold, 

 and by their piteous manner ask for charity, when they could 

 join their kindred in more hospitable regions, where food is abun- 

 dant, and independently obtained. 



The Snow Bird spends much of its time on the ground ; it 

 also alights on trees and fence-rails, and like the Chipping Bunting 

 and other familiar species, visits the towns and villages, and is not 

 unfrequent in the private gardens and public grounds of our large 

 cities. When food is readily obtained, it gets quite fat, and is shot 

 and caught in traps of various kinds, and sent to market. It meets 

 with ready sale, and by many persons is considered excellent. 



Usually by the first of May, all of this species have departed 

 from the Island, its northward migrations extending to the Fur 

 countries, where it is said that the majority pass the summer. 

 A |ew have been found breeding on the Cattskill Mountains, and in 

 the woods at Greenbush, opposite Albany, as well as in the more 

 immediate vicinity of that city. 



