THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 39 
that date. Juncos were noticed feeding on the seeds still adhering 
to the dry culms of the Chenopodium weed on the 13th. Grackles 
and Kill-deer plovers came on the 13th also, and several large 
Hawks were observed careering and mewing high above the forest 
on the rath. On the 18th the Red-winged Grackle was seen and 
heard. We have always been accustomed here to liken the sound 
of the the Red-wing’s notes to the pronunciation of the syllables 
““ Pope-ree, pope-ree.” 
There was a gloomy snow-storm on the 22nd instant, and 
although three or four inches of snow fell, yet on the weather be- 
coming clement a number of Cranes were seen on the following day. 
Two parties of Cranes, of four members each, were seen visiting some 
swamp-ash trees whereon were old nests occupied as breeding-places 
in past seasons. 
The Phcebe Fly-catchers were also reported as having been 
seen on the same day, but we did not see them until the following 
morning—the 24th. 
A mild wave set in before dawn on the 24th and the ther- 
“mometer showed 51 degrees at daybreak. At 3 o'clock in the after- 
noon it reached 60 degrees, and this had an inspiring effect on the 
birds. The Blue-birds were seen mating, and in search for nesting- 
places. The Robins were doubly demonstrative in voice and 
behavior, which subsided somewhat as the atmosphere cooled 
towards evening, when the wind changed from southwest to north- 
west. The Song Sparrows have also been contributing their 
quota almost daily to the bird concert since the 17th. 
The Chipmunks were noticed above ground by boys who had their 
dogs in the sugar bush on the 25th. (Ground Hogs’ tracks were 
seen in the snow near their burrows on the 23rd. A reliable ob- 
server, however, informs us that he saw a Ground Hog moving 
about in the snow near its burrow one fine cold day during the last 
week in February. If this be true it would seem to indicate that 
this animal, like the bear, awakes from its torpor on Candlemas Day, 
and if certain meteorological conditions exist, again goes into its 
retirement for a period of six weeks. 
Judging from the promptness of the appearance of the bird- 
hosts, on the subsidence of the cold weather, it would appear that 
they travel on the very crest of the warm wave, like a victorious 
army pursuing and harassing a discomfited and retreating enemy. 
