BIRDS OF DURHAM AND VICINITY. 
63 
spring visit occurs in March and April. Tliough seeds form the 
greater part of their food, they eat such insects as they are able to find. 
Out of two December stomachs, I have taken no less than a dozen flies 
of different kinds. Horned Larks are often associated with Snow- 
flakes when both are engaged in the common pursuit of gathering seeds. 
They sometimes follow the retreating tide on the shore, pecking busily 
among the stones, but more often they are found on the ungrassed 
portions of marshes in scattered flocks. They are easily identified 
as there is no other species of similar size and habits, except Snow- 
flakes, here in cold weather. 
Family CORVID^. 
Cyanocitta cristata. Blue Jay. 477. 
The Blue Jay is a common permanent resident, most in evidence 
when nuts and corn are ripe. Ten months of the year he is a sneak, 
living slyly in thick woods, getting a livelihood by fair means or foul, 
always acting like one in debt. September and October bring the 
mast harvest, and the wily jay employs himself in the honest labor of 
collecting nuts. He is no longer a coward, but goes boldly about his 
business, making the woods ring with his calls — a different bird alto- 
gether. By November the nuts are fallen and buried by leaves. Cold 
winds drive him to his old haunts in the pines, and again he drops 
into his secretive ways, — a veritable fox in feathers. His nest is a 
frail affair of twigs in a small pine or hemlock in a dense thicket. This 
Jay is an expert vocalist. There seems to be no limit to the variety 
of sounds he can make, and in captivity he is readily taught to 
imitate a considerable variety of sounds. 
Perisoreus canadensis. Canada Jay. 484. 
The Canada Jay is quite out of order down here so far from his 
normal habitat. Nevertheless, Mr. Shaw of Hampton states that two 
were killed at Boar's Head some years ago. It is only a casual visitant 
at best, one of the rare possibilities of autumn, when birds are more 
given to roaming than at any other time of year. 
Corvus corax principalis. Northern Raven. 486a. 
Ravens seldom visit this locality, and indeed, their occurrence any- 
where in the state is at present exceptional. I have found none in the 
collections that I have visited, but Mr. George Wentworth of Rollins- 
ford tells me that he once saw one at Wells Beach. Its large size and 
hoarse voice readily distinguish it from a crow. 
