BY THE WAYSIDE 
59 
SNOWFLAKE OR SNOWBUNTING. 
Keep a sharp outlook for these beauti¬ 
ful, dainty birds as you cross the mead¬ 
ows or sandy, weed-grown flats. They 
are so nearly white and their movements 
when on the wing are so light and airy 
that these birds resemble nothing so 
much as a flake of snow. They are very 
light brown on the back and white nearly 
everywhere else. When alarmed they 
spring suddenly from the earth, and with 
soft twitterings fly airily away. 
TOPLAND LONGSPUR. 
In habits the Longspurs resemble the 
Snowflakes. They are darker-colored 
and have a large dark crescent on their 
breasts. They get their name from the 
very long claw on the hind toe. They 
frequent plowed meadows and fields 
grown thinly with weeds. If you scare 
up a flock, crouch quietly just where 
vou are and after the birds have circled 
far away out of sight. They will usually 
return whence they started. 
BOHEMIAN WAXWING. 
You will find no bird more interesting 
than the Bohemian Waxwing. There is 
an atmosphere of mystery hangs about 
these silent, gentle creatures. They usu¬ 
ally appear on some bleak day of iall or 
winter, from their home in the far north, 
and their timid, peace-loving disposition 
seems strangely out of keeping with a 
life that must often battle with cold and 
famine. They move about in flocks 
keeping close together whether on the 
wing or perched side bv side on a^hori- 
zontal limb. They eat the berries of the 
mountain ash, barberry, juniper, and of 
other shrubs and trees. They look much 
like large Cedar Waxwings but are grayer. 
John F. Ferry. 
Winter Birds. 
The mild winter may have something 
to do with it, but I have seen a greater 
variety, and a larger number of each va¬ 
riety of birds this winter than any pre¬ 
ceding year up to this time. The saucy 
bluejay, nuthatch, brown creeper, chick- 
a-aee, downy woodpecker, Bohemian 
waxwing. 
Grosbeak are seen in large numbers. 
These grosbeaks are a puzzle to me for 
they are generally looked for here when 
severe weather has driven them down 
from the north. I have also seen the 
chewink or ground robin. This bird 
comes in late April and stays to October, 
but this winter I have seen it repeatedly 
feeding on the ground or flying from tree 
to tree hotly pursued by the English 
sparrow. These birds have all been 
seen from my own window for I have 
been unable to go upon an}^ bird excur¬ 
sions this winter. 
Winning the Birds. 
Of all times, winter is perhaps the best 
in which to seek the confidence of birds. 
Thev are at that time in need of food, we 
can offer them friendly assistance, and 
hunger makes them respond to our ad¬ 
vances. Just fancy, for instance, having 
chickadees come in through the open 
windows in little flocks, to hop about the 
rooms and examine all your belongings, 
with their bright black eyes, or to take 
breakfast with you in the morning ! Yet 
this is exactly the experience we have 
had during the last two winters, one in 
Massachusetts and the other in New 
Hampshire, and it is an experience which 
anyone who lives in the country may 
have, with little trouble and less expense. 
—Ernest Harold Bavnes in St. Nicholas. 
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