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THE WHITE-THEOA T E D FINCH. 
Fringilla Pennsylvania, Lath. 
PLATE CXCI. — Male and Female. 
This pretty little bird is a visitor of Louisiana and all the southern dis- 
tricts, where it remains only a very short time. Its arrival in Louisiana 
may be stated to take place in the beginning of November, and its departure 
in the first days of March. In all the Middle States it remains longer. 
How it comes and how it departs are to me quite unknown. I can only say, 
that, all of a sudden, the edges of the fields bordering on creeks or swampy 
places, and overgrown with different species of vines, sumach bushes, briars, 
and the taller kinds of grasses, appear covered with these birds. They form 
groups, sometimes containing from thirty to fifty individuals, and live 
together in harmony. They are constantly moving up and down among 
these recesses, with frequent jerkings of the tail, and uttering a note common 
to the tribe. From the hedges and thickets they issue one by one in quick 
succession, and ramble to the distance of eight or ten yards, hopping and 
scratching, in quest of small seeds, and preserving the utmost silence. When 
the least noise is heard, or alarm given, and frequently, as I thought, without 
any alarm at all, they all fly back to their covert, pushing directly into the 
very thickest part of it. A moment elapses, when they become reassured, 
and ascending to the highest branches and twigs, open a little concert, which, 
although of short duration, is extremely sweet. There is much plaintive 
softness in their note, which I wish, kind reader, I could describe to you ; but 
this is impossible, although it is yet ringing in my ear, as if I were in those 
very fields where I have so often listened to it with delight. No sooner is 
their music over than they return to the field, and thus continue alternately 
sallying forth and retreating during the greater part of the day. At the 
approach of night, they utter a sharper and shriller note, consisting of a 
single twit , repeated in smart succession by the whole group, and continu- 
ing until the first hooting of some owl frightens them into silence. Yet, 
often during fine nights, I have heard the little creatures emit here and 
there a twit, as if to assure each other that “ all’s well. ” 
During the warmer days, they remove partially to the woods, but never 
out of reach of their favourite briar thickets, ascend the tops of hollies, or 
such other trees as are covered with tangled vines, and pick either a berry 
Vol. III. 26 
