March 



ern States. It is rather difficult to distinguish 

 the two species. 



Such a bird, if serving little purpose in other 

 respects to the ornithologist, at least accentuates 

 the beauty, grace, and melody of the other 

 species. 



On any warm bright day in March I was sure 

 of hearing the luscious, bubbhng song of the 

 European goldfinch, which anticipates by many 

 weeks its laggard brother of the Western World. 

 The songs one hears in March are in some re- 

 spects unrivalled by any others throughout the 

 year — apart from their own merit, so filled with 

 a glow of promise, like the delicate touch of 

 crimson m the early dawn, that is lost in the 

 full blaze of sunrise. There is a mysterious 

 charm in hope that is not found in realization. 

 Full often the blossom is fairer to look upon 

 than the fruit. 



If most of the species must be accused of 

 being ''fair weather" birds, this cannot be 

 predicated of the chickadee; for any day, be it 

 cold or warm, in sunshine or in storm, you 

 may hear his irrepressible outbreak. All win- 

 ter long I have found him in overflowing good 

 spirits, and never in gayer mood than in a cold 

 and driving snow-storm. He is the counterpart 



85 



