MAY. 
167 
and he had to struggle to keep himself in the lower air : 
he brings himself down to suck the flowers^ then shoots away 
with a springy lightness like an unincumbered balloon when 
the cords are cut. It is more like the flight of a dragon-fly 
than anything else^ but much more buoyant. The first that 
I ever saw were two males^, that shot along just over my 
head one day in July, soon after my arrival here. From the 
peculiar character of their flight, and the sparkling brilliancy 
of their colours, I took them for large and beautiful insects^ 
and it was not until I had seen more that I was convinced 
of my mistake. 
C. — I have seen many Scarlet .Tanagers lately in the 
ploughed fields and pastures ; yesterday they were very nu- 
merous, particularly in the orchard ; there was scarcely a 
moment in which we might not see three or four within a 
few rods of each other. The Bob Lincolns are still more 
abundant ; they sit on every fence^ and utter their singular 
cry in every direction. Crows have been occasionally seen 
some time ; but I have heard for about a week a sound 
from the summits of the forest^ somewhat like their cawing^ 
but much more soft and musical. I followed the sound to 
discover the authors^ but could see nothing but crows not 
perceptibly differing from the common species. 
F. — It is the common Crow f Corvus Corone J ; this 
change in its usually harsh note^ takes place periodically at 
or rather just before the breeding season. They are selecting 
their mates^ and fixing on a spot to build in^ the top of some 
lofty elm or other tall forest tree. As soon as their nest is 
built^ they become totally silent^ and continue so until their 
young are fiown^ when they resume their usual mode of 
cawing. This is one of the few species which are common to 
both America and Europe. The Raven f Corvus Corax J 
occasionally sails over our heads^ as he appears to visit 
nearly every country; but he is not a common sojourner with 
