244 



IN AUTUMN. 



about this time (Jan. 21). At other times they 

 sought their food along the roads. They are 

 seldom seen but when it snows." The same au- 

 thor, thirty pages further on, says the English 

 called it " snow-bird," and the reason is that it is 

 only seen in winter, " when the fields are cov- 

 ered with snow." This impression, which there 

 is no reason to believe was correct when Kalm 

 wrote, still prevails, and yet there is not a tittle of 

 reason for associating the bird with snow, as 

 there is with the snow-bunting, an Arctic bird 

 that you may or may not see when the snow- 

 storms come. 



Neither Wilson nor Audubon gives any rea- 

 son for such a name, and what has been written 

 since is of little moment. Wilson's reference to 

 one phase of the bird's habits would make the 

 name " snow-bird " more appropriate, but Wil- 

 son repeated ill-considered hearsay in this case, 

 for these birds care less about weather changes 

 than many another. They enjoy a foul day, 

 whether it rains or snows, and hunt for food 

 wherever it is to be found. Being nearly black, 

 of course they are very conspicuous against a 

 white background, and not at all so when the 

 ground is bare. Possibly this may have given 

 rise to the name. Well, this miscalled bird is 

 now here, and has been for three weeks ; and 

 to-day is twittering gayly over wilted asters, and 



