TWELVE WINTER BIRDS. 301 



case with so many birds. This makes it a true " winter 

 resident," of which, among the sparrows, but five 

 occur in Indiana. 



While here the snow-bird is always seen in small 

 bevies or family groups, never singly. A true 

 brotherly and sisterly love seems to animate these 

 groups. Their members are never seen quarreling 

 among themselves as is so common an occurrence 

 with their pesky cousins, the English sparrows; but 

 when one is crippled or ailing all the others vie with 

 each other in carrying food to it and giving it every 

 needed attention. Their ordinary note is a short, 

 sharp, emphatic "chip", rapidly repeated as the bird 

 is Hushed; but in the spring, as the days become 

 warmer, they delight to sit in the low branches of 

 trees and sing a very sweet, suppressed song, as if 

 tuning up in anticipation of the coming mating in 

 that far northern country for which .they will soon 

 depart. All in all, though dull in color and lacking 

 in brilliant song, these little snow-birds have many 

 charming habits, well worthy the study of any one 

 interested in our feathered friends. Were they for- 

 ever taken from our midst we would sadly miss them 

 on those days when murky clouds o'erspread the sky 

 and snow and ice enshroud the lap of earth. 



"Better far, ah yes! than no bird 

 Is the ever-present snow-bird ; 

 Gayly tripping, dainty creature, 

 Where the snow hides every feature; 

 Covers fences, field and tree, 

 Clothes in white all things but thee; 

 Restless, twittering, trusty snow-bird, 

 Lighter heart than thine has no bird:" 



