520 ; The Eastern Snow-Bird. [July, 
our study windows is a beautiful copse of Thuja occidentalis, or 
arbor vita, its object being to screen an outhouse from the public 
road. The trees are high and the foliage dense, and each tree hugs 
its companion lovingly, so that all seem but as one. Hither come 
our little birds when the day’s foraging is done—this is their nightly 
“covert from storm and rain;” while strange to tell, their snow 
dug-out is made to serve as a cosy asylum from the cutting wind 
by day. A callow philosopher to whom the above was men- 
tioned, pronounced it a probable instance of mimicry inherited 
from a very ancient Junco, who got the idea from that glacial 
Eskimo who made snow dug-outs in Central New Jersey. The 
suggestion was declined, with thanks, but our speculative friend 
seemed much graveled about it. Nor did the counter suggestion 
mollify matters—that snow-house building required some archi- 
tectural skill. We even urged the fact of its form, a segment of 
a sphere, and further that as a true surbased dome, this igloo of 
these Innuits greatly antedated that famous dome of the Parthenon, 
yet were less ancient than the dug-out domiciles made by mol- 
lusks, insects, birds and beasts. 
There are always to be found the ne’er-do-wells among both 
birds and men. The survivals generally are such as anticipate the 
untoward times. We hear of the imported sparrows stuffing their 
boxes to exclude the cold; and we saw in an elm tree in the 
village, a nest which they had made of coarse materials, almost 
large enough for a hawk, the simple carrying labor for which 
must have been prodigious. But among these little folks, this 
providing for a rainy day is exceptional. It does not indicate 
tribal habit so much as the individual capacity. I-did not see 
any other Juncos improvise a snow. dug-out into a shelter from 
the storm. With many birds it is a common practice to avail 
themselves of the handiwork of man. My daily paper reads: 
“ During the recent cold weather a flock of snow-birds took ref- 
uge from the cold in Margaret English’s barn at Smith’s Land'ng, 
and became very tame.” We trust that the good Madam, like @ 
pearl of a woman, gave the wee birdies food. ‘“ Became very 
tame.” This tail end of that local item wags more gravely thas 
the writer knew. This tameness of the snow-bird is only in wit- 
ter born, and comes of pitiless pinching pain, The food supply 
withdrawn they come timidly to our doors. And how delightful 
it is that one may turn his window sill into an almonry for the 
