1903 The Woodland in March 25 



delicate little red tufts on the Nut Hazel — known to the 

 student as the female blossom — were observable. I do not 

 ever remember seeing the male blossom of the Hazel under 

 more delightful conditions than on the aforesaid morning in 

 early March. The catkins, loaded with golden pollen, as seen 

 against the dark and leafless trees and shrubs of the wood- 

 land — and more especially where a flood of sunlight caught 

 them — were never more appreciated, and the more so because 

 I had been watching those " lambs' tails " when they were 

 mere little notches, hardly noticeable to the casual observer. 



How the balmy spring air seems to have set the birds 

 singing ! Skylarks in the fields bordering the woodland in 

 incessant song ; Song and Missel Thrushes in strong com- 

 petition one against the other as to the richness and variety 

 of their sweet cadences ; nimble little brown Wrens singing 

 loud and long; Robins in sweeter dulcet notes than ever; 

 Chaffinches tuning their lutes and practising that abruptly 

 finished warble ; Hedge-Sparrows uttering their cheery little 

 matin from the topmost twigs of the hazel ; Ring-Doves 

 have found their love-songs, and I know of no more rural 

 sound ; Great Tits make the woodland ring with their spring 

 notes ; a Blackbird or two contribute their mellow vespers ; 

 Nuthatches call loudly and Woodpeckers laugh ; Tree- 

 Creepers scamper round the tree - trunks more agile than 

 ever; a Sparrow-Hawk pitches on a neighbouring tree-top 

 and casts around as to where shall be laid those blood- 

 daubed eggs ; noisy Jays shriek with veritable delight that 

 spring is again near at hand. Proud Pheasants strut by the 

 side of the woodland ; Starlings chatter ; and noisy Rooks 

 disport themselves on the ploughed lands. 



For months past there has not been such commotion and 

 jubilation in the birdland of the woods as on this glorious 

 March morning. 



One notices the threefold leaves of the Wood Sorrel and 

 the fast unrolling Honeysuckle ; the fresh green of the Elder 

 and the Wild Cherry ; the delicate bells of the Snowdrops in 

 the old orchard ; the red tints on the twigs and branches ; 

 the Hornbeam fast losing its summer tresses, for the new 

 leaves are quickly forming and pushing off the old garb of a 

 bygone season. 



