Snowflake SONG-BIRDS.

Season: An erratic winter visitor. Late October to March and early April.

Breeds: Mostly north of the United States, and in the Rocky Moun- tain region. Casually in northern New England and New York State.

Nest : Rare, high in evergreens, principally.

Eggs: Light green, spotted with brown.

Range: North America generally, in winter south to the Gulf States and Mexico.

The Pine Siskin, as its name implies, is a lover of ever- greens, and spends the winter in roving from copse to copse. It is strictly a seed-eater, and consumes alike the kernels of large cones and the seeds of low herbs. It has the dipping flight of the Goldfinch, and many other characteristics of the two birds are similar. You will be most likely to iden- tify the Pine Siskin as it clings to tufts of spruce cones, peering between their scales; the sulphur-yellow tinge of the feathers showing plainly against the deep green.

Dr. Jonathan Dwight, J r., who heard these Siskins sing- ing between March 15, and May 2, at Rockaway and Cypress Hills Cemetery, says that their song is a “soliloquizing gabhle, interspersed with a prolonged wheeze—a pro- longation of their usual note while flying.” Mr. Bicknell adds: “ This hoarse note sometimes sounds like a common note of the English House Sparrow. Before it was familiar to me, it was with no little surprise that I heard at Big Moose Lake, deep in the Adirondack wilderness, a bird note so suggestive of city streets.”

Snowflake: Plectrophanes uivalis. Snow Bunting.

PLATE 28. FIG. 1. Length : 7 inches.

Male and Female: Summer plumage white. with the exception of black back, white-banded wings, tail, and band across back. Winter plumage soft browns and white,—dead-1eaf colours and snow. Bill and feet black.

Song: Thoreau says, “a soft, rippling note."

Season : A midwinter visitor, especially in snowy seasons.

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