The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-02-27
BIRDS.
Phe Haunts and Habits OF Several Snow
Loving Species.

1no Haunta n Habits OF Several Snow.
Loving Species.
The red-polis and the goldfinches
often travel together, or at least are
often to be found feeding in company;
and as they resemble each other a
good deal in size, general appearance,
and ways, the casual observer is very
likely not to discriminate between
them. Only the summer before the
time of which l speak I had spent a
vacation at Mount Wachusetts and a
resident of Princeton, noticing my at
tention to the birds Ga taste SO pecu-
liar is not easily concealed), had one
day sought an interview with me to
inquire whether the s'yellowbird" did
not remain in Massachusetts through
he winter. l explained that we had
two birds which commonly went by
that name, and asked whether he
meant the one with a black forehead
and black wings and tail. Yes, he
said, that was the one. I assured him
of course, that this bird, the goldtinch,
did stay with us all the year round,
and that whoever lad informed him
to the contrary must have understood
him to be speaking about the golden
warbler. He expressed his gratitica-
ton, but declared that he had really
entertained no doubt of the fact him
self; he had often seen the birds on the
mountains when he had been cutting
wood there in midwinter. At such
times, he added, they were very tame,
and would come about his feet to pick
up crumbs while he was eating his din
ner. Then he went on to tell me that
at that season of the year their plum
age took on more or less of q reddish
tinge; he had seen in the same flock
some with no trace of red, others that
were slightly touched with it, and 9TH
eI's still OF a really bright color. At
this had nothing to say, save that the
red birds. whatever else they we're,
could not have been goldfinches. But
next winter, when l saw the ..yellow-
birds, and the red poll-linnets feeding
together in Commonwealth avenue I
thought at once of my Wachusett
friend. Here was the very scene he
had so faithfully described,-some of
the flock with no red at all, some with
red crowns, and a few with bright car
mine crowns and breasts. They re-
manned all winter, and no doubt
thought the farmers of Boston a very
good and wise set to cultivate the
evening primrose so extensively. This
plant, like the succory, is of an UNI
graceful aspect, yet it has sweet and
beautiful blossoms, and as an herb
bearing seed is in the front rank. 1
doubt whether we have Any that sur
pass it. the birds being judges.
Many stories are told OF the red
polls fearlessness and ready recon-
~ciliation to captivity, as we'll as of
their constancy to each other. I have
myself stood still in the midst of a
flock until they were feeding around
my feet so closely that it looked easy
enough to catch ono or two of them
with a butterfly net. Strange that
creatures SO gentle and seemingly SO
d%elicately organized should choose to
live in the regions about the north
pole! Why should they prefer Labra.
dor and Greenland, Iceland and
S%pitzbergen, to more southern coun-
tries? WhyP Well, possibly for no
worse a reason than this, that these
are the lands of their fathers. Other
birds, 1t may be, have grown dis
%couraged, and n after another ceas-
ed to come back to their native shores
as the rigors of the climate have in
creased but these little patriots are
still faithful. Spitzbergen is home,
and every spring they make the long
and dangerous passage to it. All
praise to them
If any be ready to call this and
over-retinement, deeming it incredible
that beings so small and lowly should
come so near to human sentiment and
virtue, let such not be too hasty with
their dissent. Surely they may in
reason wait till they can point to at
least one country where the men are
as universally faithful to their wives
and children as the birds are to theirs.
The red-poll linnets, as l have said,
are irregular visitors in this region
several years may pass, and not one
be seen but the goldfinch we have
with us always. Easily recognized as
he is, there are many well-educated
New Englanders, l fear, who do not
know him, even by sight yet when
that distinguished ornithologist, the
duke of Argyll. mn to publish his
impressions of this country, he AYERS
that he has been hardly more interest
ed in the "glories OF Niagara than in
this same little yellow bird. which he
saw for the first time while looking
from his hotel window at the great
cataract. ga golden finch, indeed y
he exclaims. Such a tribute as this
from the pen of a British noblcman
ought to give Astragalinus tristts i'm.
mediate entrance into the very best o.
American society, february atlantic