16 OBSERVATIONS ON CANADIAN BIRDS. 
in colour; they arrive here about the beginning of May, a month, 
which, above all others, is enjoyed by those who are fond of rambling 
in the woods. Their food seems to consist chiefly of insects, which they 
find lurking among the opening buds and blossoms of the trees. A few 
species remain with us during summer and rear their young, but the 
great body pass on farther north to breed, returning again in Septem- 
ber, though from the trees being more full in leaf at that season, and 
the birds silent, they are not so much observed. I have noticed 22 
species belonging to this family, in our woods, some of them of rather 
rare occurrence, among which I may mention the Sylvia Maritima 
or Cape May Wood-warbler.. Wilson met with this species only once 
and Audubon mentions it as being exceedingly rare. I found it in the 
spring of 1857 along with others of the same family, while on their 
annual journey no rthward. 
The Family of Creepers includes besides the tree creeper, (the type 
of the class) the Genus Wren, of which we have three species, viz. the 
Marsh wren, which builds in all the marshes round the Bay, the 
Winter wren, which is identical with the common wren of Britain, and 
the House wren, which seems to have discovered Hamilton only within 
the last two or three years. This little bird is strongly attached to the 
dwellings of man, and in the United States is frequently accommodated 
with a house fixed to a post or tree in the orchard, which is taken 
possession of as soon as the birds arrive from their winter quarters. 
During the past two summers several pairs of house wrens have raised 
their brood in our city gardens, though previous to that date, I have 
not heard of their being observed. 
Of Thrushes we have five species, among which is an instance 
of the difference of habit which is frequently noticed even among 
birds which im many respects are closely allied to each other. The 
red breasted thrush or Robin is well known for his familiarity, 
frequently rearing his young close to our dwellings, yet his near rela- 
tion the Wood-thrush is one of our most retiring songsters, and is 
seen only in the most secluded parts of the woods; perched on the 
highest twig of a tall tree his full sweet notes are frequently heard, 
but the moment he is aware of being observed he drops under the 
tree tops and glides off in silence. 
This group includes our best songsters, some of whom make the 
very woods ring with their thrilling notes. I have frequently heard 
the remark that our Canadian birds, though gaudy in plumage, are 
