72 OUR WINTER BIRDS 



ward for a short time to carpet the wood-path with 

 bright colors, and the birds, deprived of their shel- 

 ter and food, will seek a home where frost is un- 

 known. 



How pleasant it is then to know that among all 

 these travelers there are some which have come to 

 pass the winter with us. Of these "Winter Visitants," 

 Junco is the most welcome. I first hear his familiar, 

 kissing "tsip" about the end of the month, and there, 

 sure enough, on the ground near a group of ever- 

 greens, is a company of the little gray-coated, white- 

 vested birds, which have just arrived from their 

 summer home in Canada. 



■ As I approach, with a twittering note, they fly 

 into the lower branches of the neighboring trees, 

 showing as they go their white outer tail-feathers, 

 the banner they always spread in flight. They call 

 a contented "true-true-true" to me as I pass, and I 

 answer, "Yes, surely it is 'true' that you have come 

 back to cheer us during the winter." 



A little later in the season, Junco comes to our 

 dooryard and, until he leaves for the north the 

 following April, he is one of the most frequent 

 guests at our feeding-stands. Not long before he 

 goes, we may hear the simple little trill with which 

 Junco greets the coming of spring. 



