356 
SINGING BIRDS. 
1813-14. They appear very unsuspicious while feeding in the 
gardens, or on the seeds of the alder-bush, one of their favor- 
ite repasts, and thus engaged allow a near approach while 
searching for their food in every posture, and sometimes head 
downwards. They are also fond of the seeds of the pine, the 
linden, and rape, and in the winter sometimes content them- 
selves even with the buds of the alder. Wilson believed he 
heard this species utter a few interrupted notes, but nothing 
satisfactory is known of its vocal powers. Mr. Ord remarks 
that their call much resembles that of the common Yellow 
Bird, to which, indeed, they are allied. They are said to 
breed in the Highlands of Scotland, and to select the heath 
and furze for the situation of their nests, though they more 
commonly choose alder-bushes and the branches of the pine. 
According to Richardson, these birds are among the few 
hardy and permanent residents in the fur countries, where they 
may be seen in the coldest weather on the banks of lakes and 
rivers, hopping among the reeds and carices or clinging to their 
stalks. They are numerous throughout the year even in the 
most northern districts, and from the rarity of their migrations 
into the United States it is obvious that they are influenced by 
no ordinary causes to evacuate the regions in which they are 
bred. Famine, in all probability, or the scarcity of food, urges 
them to advance towards the South. It is certain that they do 
not forsake their natal regions to seek shelter from the cold. 
This season, by the 7th or 8th of November (1833), before 
the occurrence of any extraordinary cold weather, they arrived 
in this vicinity (Cambridge, Mass.) in considerable flocks, and 
have not paid a visit to this quarter before to my knowledge 
for 10 or 12 years. They now regularly assemble in the birch- 
trees every morning to feed on their seeds, in which employ- 
ment they are so intent that it is possible to advance to the 
slender trees in which they are engaged and shake them off by 
surprise before they think of taking wing. They hang upon 
the twigs with great tenacity, and move about while feeding in 
reversed postures, like the Chickadees, .'^fter being shot at 
they only pass on to the next tree and resume their feeding as 
