1881.] The Eastern Snow-Bird. 521 
winter birds—to us and them, so much happiness at such small 
cost. What goes on in these little birdies’ brains, we may not find 
out; yet it would be just nice to know if gratitude were there, 
and maybe homage too; and if they looked to us as being unto 
them their Great, and Good, and Bountiful. Well, all this is the 
poor man’s privilege, despite that greed of opulence: 
‘* Whose talons grasp the blessings of the world.” 
Our eastern snow-bird does not hold together long in large 
flocks, but does like to keep together in small bevies, or family 
groups. Whatever it is, whether conjugal, parental or filial, or 
all combined—there certainly is affection: 
“Oh, love is sweet through all the busy day time; 
Oh, love is true in winter and in May-time!” 
The group I am interviewing numbers seven individuals; 
whether they are blood-kin I cannot affirm, but I adopt the 
hypothesis and feed them as a necessitous family. But see! Is 
a good deed contagious? These tiny things have caught the 
knack of charity among themselves! There is a poor little snow- 
bird on a rail; something ails it, for a stalwart Junco is carrying 
food and feeding it with nursely tenderness. To and fro goes the 
noble little fellow, until the hunger of its nursling is appeased. 
The bird is in some way lame of wing; and its benefactor knows 
all about it. But this in a little birdie’s noddle, is a good deal; 
for a double question is under consideration, namely, hunger and 
safety, demanding foresight and strategy. If it would, the crip- 
pled bird could go to the window sill and help itself; for it has 
managed to keep up with the family flock, but with painful effort. 
These two words lighten up the whole case. Even the stalwarts 
come to the place of feeding not without circumspection and 
Some distrust, being very watchful for grimalkin and every other 
danger ; hence this thoughtful commiseration—that crippled bird 
Must be allowed a position “surveying vantage.” We have it 
from the professional bird trapper, that “snow-birds are not easy 
to catch,” 
Our Junco hyematis has some really good qualities; he is 
Social, and can be generous on occasion, and if clannish he is at 
least peaceably minded in his own family circle ; with encourage- 
ment, I think the trick of familiarity would grow upon him, and 
he might become a welcome window bird in winter, like the 
English redbreast, sitting on the sill and pecking at the pane. 
