60 SIGNS AND SEASONS 



Sucli a winter as I have referred to probably 

 destroys a great many of our half-migratory birds. 

 The mortality appears to be the greatest in the 

 Border States, where so many species, like the 

 sparrows, robins, bluebirds, meadow larks, kinglets, 

 etc., usually pass the cold season. A great many 

 birds are said to have died in New Jersey and 

 Pennsylvania, including game-birds. A man in 

 Chester County saw a fox digging in the snow; on 

 examining the spot, he found half a dozen quails 

 frozen to death. Game-birds and nearly all other 

 birds will stand the severest weather if food is 

 plenty; but to hunger and cold both, the hardiest 

 species may succumb. 



Meadowlarks often pass the winter as far north 

 as Pennsylvania. A man residing in that State 

 relates how, in the height of the severest cold, three 

 half-famished larks came to his door in quest of 

 food. He removed the snow from a small space, 

 and spread the poor birds a lunch of various grains 

 and seeds. They ate heartily, and returned again 

 the next day, and the next, each time bringing one 

 or more drooping and half- starved companions with 

 them, till there was quite a flock of them. Their 

 deportment changed, their forms became erect and 

 their plumage glossy, and the feeble mendicants be- 

 came strong and vivacious birds again. These larks 

 fell in good hands, but I am persuaded that this 

 species suffered more than any other of our birds 

 during that winter. In the spring they were imusu- 

 aUy late in making their appearance, — the first one 



