35 



To convince you that there is much to be seen in the weeds in 

 Winter, and that they are by no means deserted by the birds, it will 

 be only necessary to mention that I have seen since the first of Decem- 

 ber, principally in Dow's Swamp (a perfect treasure-house for the 

 naturalist at any time of year), sixteen different species of birds. Of 

 these the first I think of, as he was the first I saw after beginning 

 observations last February, is the Northern shrike, whom, earlier in this 

 paper, I called an arch-hypocrite, and I did so advisedly, for at one 

 moment you will hear him singing away on the topmost twig of some 

 bare tree, proclaiming himself the most innocent and well-meaning of 

 birds, and the next you will surprise him in the act of making 

 a meal off some hapless goldfinch or siskin, which he has beforehand 

 hung up in his butcher's shop in the thorn-bush. The White- 

 winged Crossbill, when seen against a dark background of ever- 

 greens, as he hangs in every conceivable attitude, feeding on the seeds 

 of the tamarac, is one of the handsomest birds of any season, and his 

 cousin, the Red, or American Crossbill, is not far behind him in good 

 looks. Then there is the big, solemn. Pine Grosbeak, who either does 

 not know or is not afraid of man, whom all the other birds seem to 

 consider, and perhaps not without reason, their natural enemy. In 

 seasons when he comes from the North in any considerable numbers, as 

 he has this winter, he may be seen whei-ever there are rowan berries, 

 but if these are not to be had he will content himself with cedar 

 instead. Occasionally we see, or more often hear, the White breasted 

 Nut-hatch, who defies the cold with his cheerful nasal "quank," and we 

 rarely miss the Chickadee, a veritable little Canuck, with his black cap 

 and muffler, often accompanied by his brown-capped and chestnut-sided 

 cousin from the North, the Hudsonian. The Hairy and the Downy 

 Woodpeckers are to be seen, too, the latter a smaller editiou of the 

 former in the same binding. That handsome fellow in the cedars, who 

 is talking to himself in an undertone, and now and then laughing at 

 your efforts to spy him out in his dark retreat, is the Blue Jay. An 

 occasional crow is also seen flying to and frora his meals at the slaughter 

 house, and once in a while we get a glimpse of the Ruffed Grouse or 

 Partridge, while Redpolls, Goldfinches, Pine Siskins and Snowflakes com- 

 plete the list. With all these to study, one can readily see that the 



