166 RIVERBY 



and trills divinely. The most prominent bird music 

 in April is from the sparrows. 



The yellowbirds (goldfinches) are just getting on 

 their yellow coats. I saw some yesterday that had 

 a smutty, unwashed look, because of the new yellow 

 shining through the old drab-colored webs of the 

 feathers. These birds do not shed their feathers in 

 the spring, as careless observers are apt to think they 

 do, but merely shed the outer webs of their feathers 

 and quills, which peel off like a glove from the hand. 



All the groves and woods lightly touched with new 

 foliage. Looks like May; violets and dandelions 

 in bloom. Sparrow's nest with two eggs. Maples 

 hanging out their delicate fringe-like bloom. First 

 barn swallows may be looked for any day after 

 April 20. 



This period may be called the vernal equipoise, 

 and corresponds to the October calm called the Indian 

 summer. 



April 2, 1890. The second of the April days, 

 clear as a bell. The eye of the heavens -wide open 

 at last. A sparrow day ; how they sang ! And the 

 robins, too, before I was up in the morning. Now 

 and then I could hear the rat-tat-tat of the downy 

 at his drum. How many times I paused at my work 

 to drink in the beauty of the day ! 



How I like to walk out after supper these days! 

 I stroll over the lawn and stand on the brink of the 

 hill. The sun is down, the robins pipe and call, 

 and as the dusk comes on they indulge in that loud 

 chiding note or scream, whether in anger or in fun 



