A BIRD-LOVER'S APRIL. 233 



vigorous rubadub, varying the programme with 

 an occasional halloo. How long this would have 

 lasted there is no telling, but he caught sight of 

 me, skulking behind a tree-trunk, and flew back 

 to his lofty perch, where he was still shouting 

 when I came away. It was obser\ 7 able that, 

 even in his greatest excitement, he paused once 

 in a while to dress his feathers. At first I was 

 inclined to take this as betraying a want of 

 earnestness ; but further reflection led me to a 

 different conclusion. For I imagine that the 

 human lover, no matter how consuming his pas- 

 sion, is seldom carried so far beyond himself as 

 not to be able to spare now and then a thought 

 to the parting of his hair and the tie of his cra- 

 vat. 



Seeing the great delight which this wood- 

 pecker took in his precious tin pan, it seemed 

 to me not at all improbable that he had selected 

 his summer residence with a view to being near 

 it, just as I had chosen mine for its convenience 

 of access to the woods on the one hand, and to 

 the city on the other. I shall watch with in- 

 terest to see whether he returns to the same 

 pasture another year. 



A few field sparrows and chippers showed 

 themselves punctually on the 15th ; but they 

 were only scouts, and the great body of their 

 followers were more than a week behind them. 



