THE SUNNY SOUTH OOLOGIST. 



33 



habits are about the same as those of the 

 Great-horned Owl, except that the former is 

 much more solitary. The eggs are about the 

 same, only a little smaller, and pure white in 

 color. They are placed in almost any kind 

 of a nest or hole, in a tree or rock that will 

 hold them. The nesting season is a few 

 weeks after that of the preceding species. 



The Great Northern Shrike (Lanius borea- 

 lis) is another of our residents, coming early 

 in December to the southern countries, in 

 very small numbers. It returns about the 

 middle of March to breed in the northern 

 part of the State. It is considerably larger 

 than the White-rumped Shrike or "Butcher- 

 bird,'' and has a broad band of black extend- 

 ing from the base of the bill around the 

 back of the head. Its habits are about the 

 same as those of the other shrikes, and is, even 

 more than them, addicted to the practice of 

 killing small birds. One of its chief articles 

 of food in winter is the little American Gold- 

 finch . 



The Northern Waxwing (Ampelisgarrulus) 

 probably nests in the northern portions of 

 this State, visiting the southern parts in win- 

 ter and early spring. These birds are a trifle 

 larger, and in all other ways closely resem- 

 bles the common Waxwing or Cedar-bird. 

 They assemble in flocks late in the fall, and 

 roam about the lower counties during the 

 winter in considerable numbers. On arriv- 

 ing at a suitable locality, a flock of about 

 thirty take up their abode there for a few 

 months, wandering quite a distance in day- 

 time in search of food, but always returning 

 at nightfall to the same roosting place, if 

 they are undisturbed. 



The chief sound seems to be a few chips 

 and those are only varied by their cries of 

 alarm. 



This year very few were seen in this local- 

 ity until the middle of January, when they 

 became quite common. About the 10th of 

 March they left in a body to nest in early 

 spring in our northern conutries. 



The eggs are almost exactly the same as 

 those of the Cedar bird, and are three, four 

 or live in number. 



In company with this species the Evening 

 Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina) comes 

 in the role of a winter vieitor, but it undoul t 



edly breeds in the northern parts of the State. 

 Its stay is comparatively short here, for, 

 coming in the latter part of December, it re- 

 turns before January is spent. This bird is 

 the most beautiful of all the species found 

 in winter; the anterior half of the body is 

 yellowish olive; wings, crown, upper tail, 

 coverts and tail, black; most of other parts 

 yellow; there is some white on the wings 

 and back, making altogether an odd-looking 

 but beautiful bird. The female is some- 

 what lighter and the back is a dark brown. 

 These birds are not so numerous as the Wax- 

 wings and go in flocks of about the same 

 s'z ■. They are found in old fields, picking 

 the seeds from the blue maples and from 

 various weeds. When one of a flock is kill- 

 ed, the remainder fly around and will not 

 leave the place, and in this way the whole 

 flock is easily taken. The males are few 

 compared with females, being about one- 

 third the number. They are very tame and 

 easily approached. 



With these the pine Grosbeak (Pincola 

 enucleator), a smaller bird is often seen. 

 They are very few in number, travelling in 

 pairs and in three and fours. In habits the}* 

 are similar to the Grosbeaks and nest in the 

 same latitude. 



The Common Redpole (Aegiothus linaria) 

 arrives here early in December and remains 

 until February. Flocks of about twenty- 

 five are often seen in the trees about old farm 

 houses. This bird breeds early in the spring 

 and deposits three, four, or sometimes five 

 eggs about the first of May. The eggs are a 

 light blue, marked irregularly about the lar- 

 ger end with black. 



One of the best known as well as one oi 

 the commonest residents of this State is t lie- 

 American Goldfinch (Astrogalinus tristis) 

 This little bird is called by quite a variety of 

 names; in almost every part of the state it is' 

 called "Wild Canary,' and in many sections 

 it is known, especially to the egg-coll' ct >r, 

 as "Thistle-bird," "Yellow-bird,'' etc. Who 



would think that the little brown twittering 

 birds lie sees picking seeds and main out of 



the snow were the ones, brilliant with bright 

 yellow and black, singing so merrily among 

 the green leaves of summer? Hut it is true, 

 though the color and habits change, they 



