The Birds' Calendar 



selves in their most animated mood, and in 

 finest plumage. Some, like the American gold- 

 finch, seem like quite another bird in winter, 

 dressed in sober brown ; and where the change 

 is not so remarkable, the colors are noticeably 

 dull and lifeless during the winter months. 

 How spiritless, shabby, and almost contempt- 

 ible a robin looks in January, skulking among 

 the undergrowth, as if conscious and ashamed 

 of his unkempt and faded appearance. But 

 look at him in March ! He is a new creature, 

 proud and self-respecting, with lively eye, quick 

 and eager in movement, conspicuously perch- 

 ing high in the branches, as if courting your 

 gaze, and proud to show his bright chestnut 

 breast and black head, sleek and shapely a 

 typical thrush. Tennyson knew the vernal 

 change in the birds when he sang 



" In the Spring a fuller crimson comes upon the robin's 



breast ; 

 In the Spring the wanton lapwing gets himself another 



crest ; 

 In the Spring a livelier iris changes on the burnished 



dove." 



In twos and threes the robins are now flitting 

 about, uttering only their call-notes, a genuine 

 thrush-tone, and reserving their song till it is 

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