OF NEW ENGLAND. 251 
Massachusetts in February, and even exceptionally to have 
passed the winter here. Ordinarily, however, they appear in 
March, though with no great regularity, the males preceding 
the females; and previously to mating, which occurs about the 
first of May, they are more. or less gregarious. During the 
period of arrival, they may be observed flying at a considerable 
height in the air, and often uttering their loud chuck, though 
sometimes silent. Later in the season, they visit ploughed 
lands and fields, to obtain whatever suitable food they can find, 
walking over the ground in search of it, and, when frightened, 
betaking themselves to the nearest trees, where they frequently 
cluster in large numbers. They roost at night in bushy mead- 
ows and in swamps. When the weather permits, they frequent 
these by day, and also the open meadows, from which their 
notes are constantly heard. They soon mate, and in May 
begin to build their nests. At this time there is always more 
or less commotion in the communities which they usually form, 
and they constantly fly back and forth, frequently chattering. 
This is particularly the case with the males, who often perch 
upon some tree to sing or whistle, and who consequently make 
much noise about their family-cares. They are certainly most 
devoted parents, and often defend their nests bravely, even 
when intruded upon by man. In July they become gregarious, 
some flying southward, and in the early part of autumn they 
desert the inland meadows, resorting to their various feeding- 
grounds. ‘In the salt marshes, or near the sea, they collect 
in large flocks, which not unfrequently contain more than a 
thousand individuals.” Hawks, farmers, and unambitious 
sportsmen, diminish their numbers in a certain measure, but 
not, I suppose, very appreciably. The ‘“ Red-wings” fly rapidly 
and strongly ; moving their wings with more swiftness but less 
regularity than the Crows. When perching, they often flirt 
their tails. Owing to the nature of their haunts, rather than 
to any natural shyness, they are not easily approached very 
closely. 
(ad). Their ordinary note is a loud, mellow chuck, or some- 
times check, The variety of sounds, however, which they 
