86 SOME CANADIAN BIRDS. 



falling snowflakoB. The width of the column, from flank to flank, 

 appeared to average about twenty-five yards. Outside of these 

 flanks few birds wore to be seen. . . . The bulk were massed in 

 this narrow column and kept directly over the margin of the shore, 

 apparently guided by the line of contrast between the whitened 

 meadow and the dark waters of the river. They moved on in per- 

 fect silence, save for the flutter of the myriad wings — not a note 

 was heard from them. Their flight was slow and suggested weari- 

 nesjs. . . . For more than two hours I watched this l»ird-wave 

 as it rolled along. ... In about half an hour from the time 

 when they were first observed some individuals showed a disposition 

 to halt. ... As the time passed the smaller birds displayed 

 evidence of growing more and more weary. Increased numbers 

 alighted, and these took longer rests, and made more energetic 

 demands for a general halt. . . . Previous to this morning 

 only an occasional early bird of these spring migrants had been 

 observed, but now as I returned homeward I found every bush 

 and fence swarming with birds." 



JUNCO 



This companion of the song sparrow — companion during the 

 northward migration- -is one of the sparrow's kindred, and displays 

 little variation in habits from the general sparrow prtjgramme. He is 

 quite as much at home in the barnyard or the garden as are any of 

 the gray-coated clan, and is as contented as the bravest of them 

 with a home in the forest. He is not one bit shy, though in no way 

 bold, and will come for crumbs with all the friendly graciousness of 

 the chipping sparrow. 



Like all the rest of the finch tribe, junco prefers seeds for a 

 general diet, and small fruits in their season, varying his menu on 

 occasions with any tasty insect that may fall to his lot. The young 

 are fed exclusively on flies and creeping things. 



For a nesting site junco is satisfied with any bit of ground where 

 he can find convenient shelter — for he does not like to have his 

 domestic afEairs laid bare to the public, and knows too well, alas. 



