Chapter III 



BIRD NOTES AND THEIR VALUE 



TWO Robins, engaged in nest-build- 

 ing directly across the way from 

 my home, have started me to think- 

 ing about bird notes this morning. 



The leaves everywhere have but just 

 emerged and are still little more than a 

 delicate mist of green over the trees. 

 Yet a spell of exceptionally warm weather, 

 following close upon a snow-storm and 

 lasting a fortnight, seems to have developed 

 certain native proclivities in these two 

 with such unusual rapidity that they have 

 gotten ahead of the foHage; and, unable 

 to wait for its privacy and shelter, have 

 begun work on their home in the topmost 

 fork of the unadorned branches of a maple, 

 where every detail of their proceedings 

 is quite open to the public gaze. 



However, as I have indicated, it is 



[34] 



