The Birds’ Calendar 
and rather dolorous chirp called my attention 
to a song sparrow quietly perching; but in that 
cold winter’s day there was no song in its 
‘heart, and it was patiently biding its time. 
Farther on I stumbled upon a catbird, which is 
quite out of place here at this season. It was 
too much occupied in picking over the dead 
leaves in search of food to take much notice of 
my intrusion; but having sufficiently canvassed 
the ground, it flew away, and I did not find an- 
other till April. For those who may be un- 
familiar with this degenerate scion of the no- 
blest family of birds (the thrushes) it may be 
remarked that it is a little shorter than the 
robin, of a slate color, crown and tail black, 
while the under tail-coverts (covering the base 
of the tail) are chestnut-red. 
Another friend in the Park is a little speci- 
men, common in winter from New England to 
Florida, and so fearless as often to be found 
about the houses and barns in the country— 
the snow-bird, a trim and sprightly creature 
about six inches long, dark slate above and on 
the breast, which passes very abruptly into 
white beneath, as if it were reflecting the leaden 
skies above and the snow below. It is com- 
monly seen on the ground, in shrubbery, or the 
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