40 LEAVES FROM AN APRIL JOURNAL. 



ground, as if they found something especially 

 [felishing in such places. 



The strength shown in those wire-like legs is 

 truly marvelous. The method of scratching seems 

 not to be like that of the hen. He brings both of 

 his feet forward at the same time, then as quickly 

 as if worked by springs, and in a way only known 

 to him, both claws are suddenly jerked backward, 

 making the leaves fly off far behind. 



There is one having a real feast down amongst 

 the water-soaked leaves, but he works so hard with 

 his little legs that he is panting. He has the 

 sensible habit of taking long resting spells, when 

 he seems to listen to some far-off sound, or per- 

 chance is musing on the journey he perforce must 

 take, in a few days, to the higher latitudes. A 

 finch of marked characteristics is he. When en- 

 gaged in searching for food, he gives his whole 

 attention and strength to the work. He is done 

 up in bright colors for a sparrow ; the clear white 

 and reddish-brown blotches on the breast and 

 flanks, with the cinnamon on the back, remind one 

 of the best-dressed species of thei Thrush family ; 

 indeed, Swainson must have been struck with the 

 resemblance to them, for he has given the same 

 specific name that Linnaeus has given to the red 



