FRINGILLA NIVALIS. 
258 
almost perpetually pursuing and fighting with 
other. About the 20th of April they take their Ica^* 
of our humhle regions, and retire to the north, and t*’ 
the high ranges of the Alleghany, to build their uest^> 
and rear their young. In some of those ranges, in * ' . 
interior of Virginia, and northward about the wat<^f^ 
of the west branch of the Susquehanna, they breed 
great numbers. The ne.st i.s ii.'ted in the ground, * 
among the grass, sometimes several being within 
small distance of each other. According to the obs*'’ 
vations of the gentlemen residing at Hudson bav factory’ j 
they arrive there about the beginning of Juno, sta)' , j 
week or two, and proceed farther north to breed. 
return to that settlement in the autumn, on their n'*- 
to the south. 
In some parts of New England, I found the opin'® 
pretty general, that the snow bird, in summer, is 1*^." j I 
formed into the small chipping sparrow, which \ve h" j 
so common in that season. I had convinced a gentlenJ*J^ 
of New York of his mistake in this matter, by tak'®^ I 
him to the Iiouse of a Mr (Jautier, there, who nn"!*^ I 
himself by keeping a great number of native as ""^n. 
foreign birds. This Wi»s in tiro month of July, and 
snow bird appeared there in the same coloured phin'^^ 
he usually has. Several individuals of the chipP"!j, 
sparrow were also in the same apartment. The eviu*'''''f 
was, therefore, irresistible ; but, as I had not the sa" , 
proofs to offer to the eye in New England, I had " 
the same success. , ^ j 
There must be something in the temperature o( ‘ , I 
blood or constitution of this bird, which unfits il . ^ 
residing, during summer, in the lower parts j 
United States ; as the country here abounds n '**' p 
great variety of food, of which, during its stay 
appears to he remarkably fond. Or, perhaps, 'f® if 
of associating in such numbers to breed, and builn’.^ 
its nest with so little precaution, may, to «nsure 
safety, require a solitary region, far from the intrud' r 
footsteps of man. • 
The snow bird is si.v inches long, and nine in ext® 
