88 
i 
COMMON SNOW-BIRD.- 
Nephasa hyemalis, Linn. 
PLATE CLXYII. — Male and Female. 
This is one of our winter visitants from the north, which, along with 
many others, makes its appearance in Louisiana about the beginning of 
November, to remain a few months, and again, when spring returns, fly off 
to seek in higher latitudes a place in which’ to nestle and rear its young. So 
gentle and tame does it become on the least approach of hard weather, that 
it forms, as it were, a companion to every child. Indeed, there is not an 
individual in the Union who does not know the little Snow-bird, which, in 
America, is cherished as the Robin is in Europe. I have seen it fed by 
persons from the “ Old Country/’ and have always been pleased by such a 
sight. During fine weather, however, it becomes more timorous, and keeps 
aloof, resorting to the briar patches and the edges of the fences ; but even 
then it is easily approached, and will suffer a person on horseback to pass 
within a few feet of the place where it may be searching for food on the 
road, or the rails of the fences on which it is perched. 
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, where the domestic 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, however, they remain only for a few minutes, 
after which they return to their avocations. They are particularly fond of 
