234 
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of tlie Atlantic than in the Interior. In both Carolinas, 
and in Georgia and Florida, they are in great plenty. 
Tn Mexico some of them are probably resident, or, at 
least, winter there, as many other of our summer j ; 
visitants are known to do. In the northern States they 
are very rare ; and I do not know that they have been 
found either in Upper or Lower Canada. Du Pratz, 
in his History of Louisiana , has related some particulars 
of this bird, which have been repeated by almost every 
subsequent writer on the subject, viz. that “ it inhabits 
the woods on the Mississippi, and collects against winter 
a vast magazine of maize, which it carefully conceals 
with dry leaves, leaving only a small hole for entrance ; 
and is so jealous of it, as never to quit its neighbourhood 
except to drink.” It is probable, though I cannot 
corroborate the fact, that individuals of this species 
may winter near the Mississippi; but that, in a climate 
so moderate, and where such an exuberance of fruits, 
seeds, and berries, is to be found, even during wunter, 
this, or any other bird, should take so much pains in 
hoarding a vast quantity of Indian corn, and attach itself 
so closely to it, is rather apocryphal. The same writer, 
vol. ii, p. 94, relates similar particulars of the cardinal 
grosbeak, ( loxia cardinalis ,) w hich, though it winters 
in Pennsylvania, where the climate is much more 
severe, and where the length and rigours of that season 
would require a far larger magazine, and be a threefold 
greater stimulus to hoarding, yet has no such habit 
here. Besides, I have never found a single grain of 
Indian corn in the stomach of the summer red-bird, 
though 1 have examined many individuals of both sexes. 
On the whole, I consider this account of Du Pratz’s in 
much the same light with that of his countryman, 
Charlevoix, who gravely informs us, that the owls of 
Canada lay up a store of live mice for winter ; the legs 
of which they first break, to prevent them from running 
aw r ay, and then feed them carefully, and fatten them, 
till w'anted for use.* 
Travels in Canada , vol. i, p. 289. Lond. 1761. 8vo. 
