172 Field and Forest Rambles. 



being caged for a few weeks, and fed on hemp and canary 

 seed, rapidly lost the crimson shadings ; indeed, such is the 

 case generally, and especially with linnets, who seldom regain 

 their markings In captivity. 



The Snow Bunting {P. nivalis) puts in an appearance 

 in September, sometimes in larger numbers than at others, 

 and with the Lapland larkspur (only a few of which, how- 

 ever, sojourn in the region during winter) disappears early 

 in spring. The common BLUE or Snow Bird (F. hy emails) 

 comes in early in spring, the majority departing to regions 

 south of the States of New England in autumn. A few, 

 however, spend the winter in the more genial climate of the 

 interior of the forest, about logging camps, in company with 

 the above finches. Here again, as I have had frequently 

 to point out, is another example of a bird very numerous and 

 gregarious, subject to albinism and piebald varieties, of which 

 I have seen several examples. Moreover, this is one of many 

 birds, including the migratory thrush, that would doubtless 

 brave the winter climate were food more easily procured. 



These winter songsters hold precedence as to numbers, 

 as follows : the crossbill, pine bullfinch, pine siskin, and 

 redpoll. Their sweet voices and beautiful forms recall to my 

 recollection many characteristic winter scenes of blessed 

 memory. To the solitary hunter or trapper in his hastily 

 built shanty, they are often the only objects that break 

 the stillness of his dreary solitude. Crowding around the 

 lumberer's camp, they relieve the monotony by their enliven- 

 ing chants and cheerful ways ; indeed, to the cook they are 

 his only companions all the dismal winter day, when his 

 comrades have gone forth to fell trees ; now crowding on the 

 refuse heaps, or around the slop-pails, and on the door-sill, 

 picking up particles of bread, pork, or sugar, and, as before 

 stated, preferring the salted substances to all others. Again, 

 the forest ranger in quest of these little outposts of civiliza- 

 tion, with no object to guide him over the wilderness, rests 



