THE COLLECTORS' MONTHLY 



Winter Birds. 



As winter is now upon us it would not be 

 amiss to write an article touching on our win- 

 ter birds. 



It is a general belief that the woods and 

 fields are in the winter time, devoid of bird 

 life, but, if some enthusiastic collector 

 would brave the cold and start out on a 

 winter expedition through the fields they 

 would find this a very mistaken theory and 

 would be well repaid for their trouble. 



Of course the birds which were with us in 

 the summer have gone to a warmer climate 

 but those birds which spend the summer in 

 the northern regions fly southward upon the 

 approach of the Arctic winter and make 

 their homes with us during the winter. 



On traversing the same woods and fields 

 that have been traversed during the summer 

 one can find entirely different birds from 

 any seen heretofore and can also learn, 

 many items of interest concerning birds with 

 which he considers himself well acquainted ; 

 for instance let him come near some swampy 

 woods and he will find the American Gold- 

 finch or yellow bird, (which he supposes 

 migrates in the fall) but with plumage so 

 changed as to be hardly recognizable, being 

 of a dull brown color instead of the bright 

 yellow which it holds in summer. 



Another very rare bird which is found in 

 northern states during the winter is the 

 Snowy Owl. He is also found in the west- 

 ern states along the coast. He breeds princi- 

 pally within the Arctic circle and is general- 

 ly found near some body of water, from 

 which he seldom strays. Unlike most of 

 his tribe he hunts by day and may be found 

 in the open fields seated upon a; stump or 

 fence watching for mice upon which he 

 feeds. Although an Arctic species this Owl 

 bears confinement well, but cannot be tamed. 

 In the dense pine swamps several other 

 varities of Owls are found but the most in- 

 teresting of these is the Saw Whet Owl, 

 which is one of the smallest of the family. 

 This bird is not very common. Its pecular- 



ity is its note which sounds like the filing of 

 a saw. It feeds upon mice and small game. 



The shrikes or butcher birds are found at 

 this season of the year. This is an extreme- 

 ly enteresting bird and is well worth going 

 miles to see. They are found near clumps 

 of bushes seated upon a branch watching 

 for a victim, which, when caught is impaled 

 upon a thorn thus to await the appetite of 

 the cruel maiauder. Some call it the nine 

 lifer because of the popular belief that it 

 impales nine victims before it begins its 

 meal. It feeds on mice, moles and small 

 birds. 



The Buntings are also quite common and 

 are found in flocks of a dozen to two hun- 

 dred or more. When flying they have the 

 appearance of pure white but the upper part 

 are black 1 They are very shy and unap- 

 proachable. 



Besides these there are many other birds 

 which instead of migrating remain 

 behind and may be found in the warmer 

 and secluded parts of a swamp. Among 

 these are the Golden winged and hairy 

 Wood- pecker, and white bellied nuthatch. 



Now then, with all this material awaiting 

 us why sh.uld we not make the winter as 

 well as summer a study time for our great 

 science - 



You who have never traversed the woods 

 in winter will find yourselves well repaid 

 for the trouble. Fred G. 



We are constantly in receipt of flattering 

 testimonials in regard to the make-up of the 

 Colleotors' Monthly. We hope and intend 

 that the 2000 readers of this paper will get 

 full value for their money. We don't believe 

 in short weights, but like to get what we pay 

 for, and like to give what we are paid for : 

 the Best Paper for the money, devoted to 

 Natural History, published. We will ap- 

 pend only one of the many testimonials we 

 are in receipt of. 



C. H Prince, Esq., Dear Sir: — I received a copy 



of your paper, the Collectors' Monthly, and 



And it to be one of the best papers devoted to 



Natural History that have come tinder my notice 



Letsou Balliet, Des Moines, Iowa 



