OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 253 



the eggs from the cold. The above is substantially 

 given by Dr, Brewer in the wprk on "North 

 American Birds." 



The eggs are beautifully blotched and dotted 

 with purplish-brown markings upon a greenish- 

 white ground, and measure .84 of an inch; in 

 length and .52 in width. The usual complenlent of 

 eggs seems to be four. 



^■Egiothus Unarms, Caban. 



The lesser Red Poll is a rare and occasional 

 visitant. It is a denizen of more northern climates , 

 only migrating as far, south as Philadeiphia, during 

 unusually severe weather, g.nd whe;n there is a 

 paucity of food-stuffs in its northern habitats,. We 

 are told that it is chiefly gregarious. During the 

 few times that we have observed it, in early April, 

 it has always been alone. M-r. Wilson says that 

 these birds were very abundant in Wester^ New 

 York in his time, and were called Snow Birds; 

 Mr. Ord in a subsequent edition of W^ilson, states 

 that it rarely visits Philadelphia, but observes that 

 during the winter of 1 8 1 3-1 4 a flock of nearly one 

 hundred were seen feeding upon Atriplex hastata. 

 Mr. Nuttall wrote .that, numbers appeared Nov, i, 

 1 833, in Massachusetts, which were so tame while 

 intently feeding upon the seeds, , of the birch, that 

 it was possible to s,trLke them off the branches 

 without their taking to Tying. He says further, 

 that they were attracted to the pines wher^ they 

 busied themselves in feeding upon the seeds which 



