The fields lay pure and white and flooded with 

 sunshine when I awoke. Jumping out of bed, 

 I ran to the window, and saw a dark object on 

 the sill outside. I raised the sash, and there, 

 close against the glass, were two quails — frozen 

 stiff in the snow. It was they I heard the 

 night before fluttering at the window. The 

 ground had been covered deep with snow for 

 several days, and at last, driven by hunger and 

 cold from the fields, they saw my light, and 

 sought shelter from the storm and a bed for 

 the night with me. 



Four others, evidently of the same covey, 

 spent the night in the wagon-house, and in the 

 morning helped themselves fearlessly to the 

 chickens' breakfast. They roosted with the 

 chickens several nights, but took to the fields 

 again as soon as the snow began to melt. 



It is easy to account for our winter birds dur- 

 ing the day. Along near noon, when it is warm 

 and bright, you will find the sparrows, chicka- 

 dees, and goldfinches searching busily among 

 the bushes and weeds for food, and the crows 

 and jays scouring the fields. But what about 

 them during the dark? Where do they pass 

 the long winter nights ? 



[35] 



