The Birds' Calendar 



whether they feast or fast, they remain careless 

 and happy, which is fortunate and perhaps com- 

 mendable. 



Yet nature is not so unskilful nor unkind, 

 after all, as at first appears ; for both birds and 

 beasts are a storehouse unto themselves, in the 

 mass of adipose matter snugly stored up under 

 their skins, as a supply of fuel with which to 

 maintain their winter fires. Without this wise 

 provision of nature countless numbers must in- 

 evitably perish during the stress of winter, and 

 very many do as it is. The leanness with 

 which many wild animals appear in the spring 

 shows how thoroughly they have exhausted their 

 reserve force. 



The best time of day to look for birds the 

 year round, with some few exceptions, is in the 

 forenoon, and in a cold winter's day not till 

 ten or eleven o'clock, for at this season they 

 rise late and retire very early. They pick up 

 an abundant breakfast (if possible), and with 

 a full stomach their activity ceases. They will 

 then remain perched in some protected spot, 

 until gastronomic cravings again drive them 

 forth. A spot protected from the wind and 

 exposed to the sun is a common rendezvous in 

 winter, and I have noticed that a high wind 

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