OF AN ORNITHLOGIST. 45 
to release. The Pine Grosbeak, or the Bulfinch of the 
North (Pinicola Canadensis Cab.), is another species 
more or less dependent on the forests, the Virginia Juni- 
per affording him favorite food. His home, too, is the 
mountains and uninhabited northern timber lands. They 
visit us but occasionally, and then in such small parties, 
locally distributed, as to escape general observation. 
Among our more familiar resident birds, there are but — 
_ few species that seem as numerous in winter as at other 
seasons ; of thesethe Blue Jay ( Cyanura cristata Swains. ), 
is a prominent example. Though unusually social in his 
disposition, he is yet hardly gregarious. The noisy 
screams of small scattered parties reach us from thé 
swamps and thickets almost daily, and in the severer 
weather individuals make fr ‘equent excursions to the or- 
chard and farmers’ cribs of corn, the few grains they pil- 
fer being amply paid for in the destruction of thousands 
of the eggs of the noxious tent-caterpillar. The poor Crow 
(Corvus Americanus Aud. ), despised or persecuted by 
nearly all, is a bird of unusual interest to every lover of 
nature, and is a true friend to the farmer, though he finds 
in the latter a most inveterate enemy. The few Crows 
that remain with us during the long cold winter, seem 
able to support but a miserable existence ; but no sooner 
does returning spring and the bare earthafford themasup- 
By of pre and other noxious insect larvee, than they fare 
, and their labors thus contribute vastly to the 
wee a the farmer. Capable of withstanding the de- 
foresting of the country, which has exterminated so many 
ef our larger birds, he needs but little encouragement to 
become one of our most familiar and useful birds. 
Passing by numerous species of our winter birds, inclu- 
ding the rasorial kinds, or the Grouse and their 
g 
