BUZZARD'S REST. 51 



As both lie and his mate remained during the year, and 

 in stormy weather often took shelter in the old nest, 

 it is simply absurd to suppose these bluebirds separated 

 at any time of the year, and the male formed a new 

 connection. Indeed, there was never more than a week 

 passed that the pair were not seen together. 



The common thistle-finch, or yellow-bird, is always 

 found in pairs, or more generally in small companies. 

 They are as gregarious in summer as in winter, and their 

 nests are often near together. Even if it cannot be 

 shown that they remain mated, there is certainly no 

 dissociation of the sexes at any time. 



The equally abundant bay-winged sparrow (the vesper- 

 bird) is a peculiarly resident species. They do not ap- 

 pear to wander at any time from the limited quarters 

 of some field of a few acres. Where they nest they live ; 

 and whether in June or January, it matters not, the 

 pair are ever in close companionship. 

 . The more social song-sparrows apparently remained 

 paired. Scores of couples, that were found breeding, 

 have been subsequently observed from week to week, 

 and the relief from the care of their offspring did not 

 result in the parents parting company. 



The crested titmouse proved a much more difficult 

 bird to study, because of its wandering tendencies. 

 During eight months of the year they are very abun- 

 dant, and, I think, always in the company of their own 

 kind. During nidification, and through July and Au- 

 gust, these birds are seemingly much less abundant, but 

 the fact is, they are unnoticed, because quite silent, as 

 compared with the same birds in autumn and winter. 



