Nklson on Door- Yard Birds of the Far North. 3 



woodpile from its smaller relative, proceeds to favor us with its 

 sweetly modulated song. A little earlier than this the familiar 

 form of the Barn Swallow has taken its place in the scene, and, 

 as it circles about, utters its chuckling notes as though fairly 

 bubbling over with delight at reaching home once more after 

 spending the winter in a distant soul hern clime. Pleasant sun- 

 shiny davs follow, and we human animals sit and bask in the 

 grateful rays upon the veranda, watching, with careless eve. the 

 passage overhead of various water-fowl : while the occasional 

 appearance of a Gyrfalcon. a Goshawk, of other bird of prey 

 lends further interest to the view. 



On fine evenings our ear is greeted by the clear Thrush-like 

 whistle of the Fox-colored Sparrow, generally from the top of 

 the cross surmounting the roof of the Russian church just back 

 of the houses. 



As June arrives we obtain a glimpse of one or two Black- 

 capped and Yellow Warblers as thev investigate the insect pre- 

 serve in the garden, after which we must seek amusement in 

 the struggles of the Swallows to master unwieldy feathers, or to 

 carry oft" straws, one end of which is embedded in the gi'ound, 

 varied by numerous hand-to-hand conflicts between the pug- 

 nacious little males as thev roll about on the ground and pummel 

 each other heartily, som/times for half an hour together ; the 

 object of all this battling, in the form of some charming female, 

 stands close by, looking on as complacentlv as a lady of olden 

 time upon the tournament, and it need not be said that the victor 

 receives the homage, now. as then. All obstacles are finally 

 overcome and in various snug nooks under the eaves the birds 

 hover with pride over their treasure-filled nests. At the same 

 time a pair of Savanna Sparrows keep watch and ward over 

 their egg-laden nest.- neatlv hidden on the sloping bank close 

 under the ice-house. 



Spring passes into summer and from the middle of July until 

 well into August the smaller birds make the Redoubt a general 

 rendezvous. The Redpolls return in family parties, the roseate 

 flush of youth worn from the parental breast by the cares of 

 family life, all being now clad in dull brown. Like neglected 

 children, who. if thev have no costlv garments, are determined 

 to enjoy themselves and make merry, so these little plebians stuff 

 themselves to repletion with the good things of the garden and 



