Niagara Falls 



1901 in the neighborhood. On the other hand, birds of the deep and 

 Day silent woods, like the Vireos, Wilson's Thrush (Turdus jus- 



cescens), the Wood-thrush (Turdus mustelinus), and the Cat- 

 bird (Mimus Carolmensis), are almost always to be seen and 

 heard in the vicinity of the Falls or river. 



Birds of the crow family, such as the common Crow, the 

 Purple Grackle, and the Bluejay were probably, at one time, 

 plentiful; but they are now rarely seen, except as they are pass- 

 ing over from one side of the river to the other. Our common 

 hawks may be included in the same remark. 



Summer or winter, numerous gulls may be seen hovering over 

 the river, between its high banks, below the Falls. 



Late in the autumn, after other birds have taken their flight 

 in the thick spray of the Red-cedars, great flocks of Cedar-birds 

 (Amphelis cedrorum) are to be noticed, feeding socially upon 

 the plentiful sweet berries of the tree. Probably they remain 

 until the supply of food is exhausted. 



The Bald-headed Eagle (Haliaetus leucocephalus) was once 

 a frequenter of the region of the cataract, but is now seldom 

 seen. Probably he has learned to be wary and not unnecessarily 

 to expose himself to the aim of the collecting naturalist. But, 

 however that may be, without doubt the waters below the Falls 

 were once a favorite resort to him. He was a devourer of fish, 

 and, although powerful of claw and pinion, he did not disdain 

 to save his strength by feeding upon such as had been killed or 

 stunned in their passage over the Falls. 



Of the birds of our region, which seem to fear the presence 

 of man, and therefore retire to the unfrequented woods, it may 

 be said that they are really plentiful in the shady nooks and 

 recesses with which the gorge of the river abounds. The natural- 

 ist who would wish to make them a study, can do so satisfactorily, 

 if he will but enter the woods at the Whirlpool or at Foster's 

 Flat and patiently and quietly await their appearance. It is 

 hardly possible that such a retiring species as the Indigo-bird 

 (Cyanospiza cyanea) will fail to reward his watchfulness, or 



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