A BIRD-LOVER'S APRIL. 217 



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, 



