86 
THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. 
the size and dark colour of the rudimentary wings on each 
side of the thorax. Caddis FHes ( Phryganem ) may be seen 
flying in the marshy woods on almost any fine day, 
F, — I noticed a cluster of Agarics springing from the 
dunghill,, a few days ago : they are an ephemeral race, 
that come up in a night, and perish in a night but some 
of them possess great delicacy of form and beauty of colour : 
these were, however^ of a plain drab hue^ but I noticed them 
as symptoms of vegetative activity. 
C. — What little birds are flocking about that apple-tree ? 
they seem fond of company, for when one moves^ they all 
accompany it. 
F. — It is the Yellow-bird, or American Goldfinch ( Frin- 
gilla Tristis ), in its olive-coloured winter plumage : in this 
state it is not very easy to distinguish them from others of 
our finches^ unless we approach pretty near them ; but their 
flight in curveS;, sinking and risings and their weak but not 
unmusical song^ are sufficient to identify them. When they 
twitter all together, as they do now^ it has a pleasing effect ; 
their favourite note resembles the word ^'^babee," the last 
syllable protracted and much higher than the first. Though 
this bird leaves our inhospitable climate in autumn^ for the 
sunnier regions of the south, yet I am not sure that indivi- 
duals do not pass the winter with us. I have observed a 
flock of them picking up oats and seeds around the homestead 
as late as the 25th of December, and have noticed small flocks 
twittering and chasing each other about the trees in the orchard 
as early as the 19th of March. They will soon begin to 
change, but it will be the middle of May before they attain 
their gay summer dress. 
C — I have noticed Crows ( Corvus Corone J flying over 
the woods and fields for some days past ; and the other day 
I roused a Ruffed Grouse f Tetrao Umbellus ) on the borders 
of the woods. 
