BIRD RECORDS DURING THE PAST WINTER 
255 
Some of these birds were feeding upon the oats from some straw 
that had caught on the trees from a passing load. Much might 
be learned of the winter food of our common birds by patient 
field observation, affording at the same time the incentive and 
the reward for the winter study of birds. 
On February 18 in the same locality we found only one Cardi- 
nal, a male who made a few feeble attempts at song. Not more 
than three notes were uttered at a time, and these were not loud. 
The performance was such as to give one the impression that 
the bird was tuning up and getting his vocal cords under con- 
trol. Mr. Allen has published his impression of this same song 
in the following words : “It was a hesitating and limping song 
that came from his throat, showing that he was sadly in need 
of ipractice, that his vocal chords had grown weak and husky 
from disuse, or that he had not complete confidence as yet in his 
equipment for the great adventure which he was about to 
undertake.” 3 
On March 4 Mr. Ludcke covered the same territory and found 
eleven Cardinals, most of whom were in full song. After this 
date the birds were usually singing, and by the last of Marcn 
many of them seemed to be mated. There is some ground for 
suspecting,, however, that the Cardinals occasionally remain 
mated throughout the winter. A very full account of the song 
of the Cardinal, and its winter habits, is given by Nuttall 4 which 
should be read by every one who is interested in this species. 
20. Towhee. Pipilo e. cry ihroph thalmus . Although an early 
spring arrival this species is never thought of as forming part 
of the winter fauna in this region. However, a female was 
found in the thickets along the Big Sioux river on December 
26, being seen by myself and Arthur Abel. It flew from the 
ground ten feet in front of us and alighted in a bush within 
twenty yards of us, where we had a full view for some time. 
We saw it again in the same place on January 2, but not after- 
ward, and it may have succumbed to the very severe weather of 
January. 
21. Bohemian Waxwing. Bomby cilia garrula. This species 
was not as plentiful this winter as in some previous years. A 
few were seen from time to time during March in Grandview 
3 Notes of a Nature Lover, by A. F. Allen. Sioux City Journal, February 
25, 1917. 
4 Loc. cit., pp. 362-367. 
