190 LAND-BIRDS. 



searching the crannies of the bark, hung with his head down- 

 wards. He soon became silent, and I remained motionless 

 until five minutes after six. I then observed another ' Ked- 

 poll,' who flew over at some distance, and at a considerable 

 height from the ground, apparently about to ' take perch ' in 

 a neighboring pine grove. My friend, a moment later, took 

 to flight and seemed (it was then dusk) to alight in a pine." 



" March 13th. This morning I went out at twenty minutes 

 before six, when Crows were already beginning to fly over. 

 Quarter of an hour later, a ' Red-poll,' who was in the pines 



which border Street, awoke and gave his call, which was 



answered by two or three of his companions, who were near 

 him, likewise in the pines. These birds then warbled for 

 about five minutes and afterwards flew away." 



" March 22d. This morning . . . the ' Eed-polls ' awoke 

 at quarter of six among the pines, but not those in which 

 they were before, and at once sang. I next observed a soli- 

 tary one, who flew over at a great height, but the rest gath- 

 ered into flocks and set about the business of the day, fly- 

 ing to a distance. The Goldfinches showed much the same 

 habits. At six I found one in a pine, singing very sweetly, 

 but he soon flew away, after uttering a few twitters." 



" March 28th. This morning I left the house at half-past 

 five, but spring has made the birds rise very early, for on 

 going out, I saw the Crows and ' Red-polls ' flying over. At 

 six, two of the latter, who have lately been very common, 

 alighted near me, to rest in their early rambles." 



" April 6th. A few ' Red-polls ' flew over to-day, but they 

 are becoming scarce." 



"April 24th. This afternoon a 'Red-poll' (^JEgiothus 

 linarius), who shows no wounds, nor as yet any signs of de- 

 composition, was picked up in the barn-cellar, the doors of 

 which were shut." 



d. The " Red-polls " have a sweet call-note, like that of 

 the Goldfinch or Siskin, and a simple " chit," often so repeated, 

 especially by a flock, as to resemble the twitterings of the 

 former bird, or even those of the latter. Their song is quite 

 like the Yellowbird's (^S. tristis}, but is distinct, since all 

 their ordinary notes are introduced. 



