Slate-colored Junco 
3S3 
“Although the Snow-birds live in little families, consisting of 
twenty, thirty, or more individuals, they seem always inclined to keep 
up a certain degree of etiquette among themselves, and will not suffer 
one of their kind, or indeed any other bird, to come into immediate 
contact with them. To prevent intrusions of this kind, when a 
stranger comes too near, their little bills are instantly opened, their 
wings are extended, their eyes are seen to sparkle, and they emit a 
repelling sound peculiar to themselves on such occasions. 
“They are aware of the advantages to be derived by them from 
larger birds scratching the earth, and in some degree keep company 
with Partridges, Wild Turkeys, and even Squirrels, for the purpose 
of picking up such food as these animals may deem beneath their 
notice. This habit is more easily observed in those 
which frequent the farm-yards, wTere the domestic Likes Company 
fowls prove regular purveyors to them. The report 
of a gun, or the unexpected barking of a dog, causes the little flock to 
rise and perch either on the fences or an adjoining tree, where, how- 
ever, they remain only for a few minutes, after which they return to 
their avocations. They are particularly fond of grass-seeds, to procure 
w^hich they often leap up from the ground, and dexterously seize the 
bending panicles. 
“It is a true hopping bird, and performs its little leaps without the 
least appearance of moving either feet or legs, in which circumstance 
it resembles the Sparrows. Another of its habits, also indicative of 
affinity to these birds, is its resorting at night, during cold weather, 
to stacks of corn or hay, in which it forms a hole that affords a snug 
retreat during the continuance of such weather, or its recurrence 
through the winter. In fine weather, however, it prefers the ever 
green foliage of the holly, the cedar or low pines, among which to 
roost. Its flight is easy, and as spring approaches, the males chase 
each other on wing, when their tails being fully expanded, the white 
and black colors displayed in them present a quite remarkable contrast. 
“The migration of these birds is performed by night, as they are 
seen in a district one day, and have disappeared the 
next. Early in March, the Snow-bird is scarcely to 
be seen in Louisiana, but may be followed, as the 
season advances, retreating towards the mountains of the middle dis- 
tricts, where many remain during the summer and breed.’’ 
Near the close of Audubon’s narrative he makes this significant 
statement : 
Migrates 
at Night 
“Their flesh is extremely delicate and juicy, and on this account 
small strings of them are frequently seen in the New Orleans market, 
during the short period of their sojourn in that district.” 
This of course was written many years before the Audubon Law, 
which protects these birds, was enacted by the Legislature of 
Louisiana. 
The Junco passes the winter in suitable localities throughout eastern 
United States from the Gulf of Mexico on the south to southern Can- 
