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THE WHITE-THROATED FINCH. 



-'-FRINGILLA PENNSYLVANIA, Lath. 

 PLATE CXCI Male and Female. 



This pretty little bird is a visitor of Louisiana and all the southern dis- 

 tricts, where it remains only a very short time. Its arrival in Louisiana 

 may be stated to take place in the beginning of November, and its departure 

 in the first days of March. In all the Middle States it remains longer. 

 How it comes and how it departs are to me quite unknown. I can only say, 

 that, all of a sudden, the edges of the fields bordering on creeks or swampy 

 places, and overgrown with different species of vines, sumach bushes, briars, 

 and the taller kinds of grasses, appear covered with these birds. They form 

 groups, sometimes containing from thirty to fifty individuals, and live 

 together in harmony. They are constantly moving up and down among 

 these recesses, with frequent jerkings of the tail, and uttering a note common 

 to the tribe. From the hedges and thickets they issue one by one in quick 

 succession, and ramble to the distance of eight or ten yards, hopping and 

 scratching, in quest of small seeds, and preserving the utmost silence. When 

 the least noise is heard, or alarm given, and frequently, as I thought, without 

 any alarm at all, they all fly back to their covert, pushing directly into the 

 very thickest part of it. A moment elapses, when they become reassured, 

 and ascending to the highest branches and twigs, open a little concert, which, 

 although of short duration, is extremely sweet. There is much plaintive 

 softness in their note, which I wish, kind reader, I could describe to you; but 

 this is impossible, although it is yet ringing in my ear, as if I were in those 

 very fields where I have so often listened to it with delight. No sooner is 

 their music over than they return to the field, and thus continue alternately 

 sallying forth and retreating during the greater part of the day. At the 

 approach of night, they utter a sharper and shriller note, consisting of a 

 single twit, repeated in smart succession by the whole group, and continuing 

 until the first hooting of some owl frightens them into silence. Yet, often 

 during fine nights, I have heard the little creatures emit here and there a 

 twit, as if to assure each other that "all's well." 



During the warmer days, they remove partially to the woods, but never 

 out of reach of their favourite briar thickets, ascend the tops of hollies, or 

 such other trees as are covered with tangled vines, and pick either a berry 



Vol. III. 26 



