132 DOWNS ON THE LAND BIRDS OF NOVA SCOTIA. 



ter time. It breeds in the Province in holes of trees. I once 

 observed one in the act of taking some sheep's wool for its nest. 

 The wool was beneath a stick on the highroad, and the bird Avas 

 endeavouring to collect all the wool, which it did by carding it out 

 and surrounding its whole head with a perfect ball of the fuzzy 

 material. Country people say, that when he cries " sweet weather, 

 sweet weather," a storm is brewing. It is commonly known as the 

 '• chicJc-a-dee' from its oft repeated note, which sounds like the 

 words " chick a dee dee dee". It delights to feast on fat of any 

 kind, and I saw it light upon candle moulds set out to cool and 

 pick out the grease. I once saw one enter a good sized marrow 

 bone and disappear entirely in the hollow within. It becomes very 

 tame when fed from a window, and during the past hard winter 

 Mrs. E. G. Fraser, had a perfect flock of black-cap-tits and other 

 birds, which regularly came to be fed night and morning. 



Hudson's Bay Tit — [P. Hudsonicus.) — Although similar in 

 habit to the preceding species it is not so common, but may occa- 

 sionally be seen in company with it. It breeds in Nova Scotia. 



Solitary Vikeo — (Vireo solitarius.) — This rare bird is almof-t 

 unknown to me, although I believe it breeds in some parts of the 

 Province. 



Warbling Yireo — (F. Gilvns.) — Common. It breeds about 

 the village, generally on the slopes of the hills among the birch 

 groves. 



Blue Bird — {GtaUa JVihonu.) — This handsome bird is only 

 occasionally seen here, being out of its usual latitude so far north. 

 I once saw four on a willow tree near Kidston's house, and got a 

 box and fixed it up like they do in the United States, but they 

 never took possession. 



Cedar Bird, or Waxwing — {Boinhijcilla Carol'tnemis.) — Gener- 

 ally appears here about the first day of June when the apple blos- 

 soms are out. It feeds upon fruit and insects, and is a fearless bird 

 allowing a person to come close to it. It breeds in the village, a 

 boy having brought me a nest taken near the church school house. 



Bohemian Waxwi.ng. — This bird occurred here in the winter 

 of 1864—5. A flock was seen near the Three Mile House, and 

 Mr. Bellis shot some specimens. This is the only instance on 

 record of its appearance in the I'rovince so far as I know. 



