IN EARLY SPRING—_SECOND WEEK OF APRIL, 9 
to roost in creepers or trees.) From half 
a mile away come the incessant caws of the 
rooks ; they have been busy nesting at the 
rookery for quite three weeks or more. And 
judging by the many birds that I see sitting 
quietly mostly of an afternoon on branches 
close by—the males I would think—the hens 
must be patiently sitting upon the eggs. 
There were seventeen nests in one lot, and 
I could see almost all occupied by sitting 
birds, while just seventeen others sat about 
around, all with their faces to the wind, so 
as to keep their balance. They seemed as 
if they were waiting patiently for the first 
news of hatching from their untiring mates. 
I glance at the silver birch. There again 
is the tom-tit investigating it bit by bit. He 
is especially fond of this tree in the spring, 
just as the buds appear, and turns and twists 
his little body in all attitudes to thoroughly 
Peete wien out. (see Part: 1 op) 34) ¥ Our 
town garden is favoured this year with a pair 
of wrens, the common jenny wrens. This 
morning I saw what I took to be the hen 
