A BIRD-LOVER’S APRIL. Q17 
their mistaken haste is too frequently nothing 
but a hurrying to their death. But I saw no 
evidence that this particular storm was attended 
with any fatal consequences. The snow com- 
pletely disappeared within a day or two; and 
even while it lasted the song sparrows, fox spar- 
rows, and linnets could be heard singing with 
all cheerfulness. On the coldest day, when 
the mercury settled to within twelve degrees of 
zero, I observed that the song sparrows, as they 
fed in the road, had a trick of crouching till 
their feathers all but touched the ground, so 
protecting their legs against the biting wind. 
The first indications of mating were noticed 
on the 5th, the parties being two pairs of blue- 
birds. One of the females was rebuffing her 
suitor rather petulantly, but when he flew away 
she lost no time in following. Shall I be ac- 
cused of slander if I suggest that possibly her 
No meant nothing worse than Ask me again ? 
I trust not; she was only a bluebird, remem- 
ber. Three days later I came upon two couples 
engaged in house-hunting. In this business the 
female takes the lead, with a silent, abstracted 
air, as if the matter were one of absorbing in- 
terest; while her mate follows her about some- 
what impatiently, and with a good deal of talk, 
which is plainly intended to hasten the decision. 
“Come, come,” he says; ‘‘ the season is short, 
