AN APRIL RAMBLE. 75 



in an appearance. A fortnight ago the naked woods 

 resounded with the cry of the Chiffchaff, and now almost 

 every bush is melodious with the sweet refrain of the 

 Willow Wren. April is the Swallow's period, and a few 

 pioneers are generally noticed in Devonshire during the 

 first few days of the month. The great army of these 

 birds may be expected from the middle of April to the 

 end of the month, according to the state of the weather. 

 They have passed Gibraltar by night on their northern 

 flight, say to their old home on some Surrey cottage, 

 and are doubtless lingering a few days in the delicious 

 climate of Pau or Arcachon, or on the sunny coasts of 

 Spain. The Wheatear is back again on the breezy 

 downs ; and the Cuckoo's notes have already broken the 

 stillness of our southern woods. Spring in downright 

 earnest has come on the wings of these southern birds, 

 and they proclaim its advent in joyous song. Many 

 more birds have yet to come, but sufficient have arrived 

 to inaugurate the change of season with becoming 

 musical honours. 



The agriculturist is now having a busy time, and let 

 us hope the seasonable April we are enjoying (1888) 

 foretells the advent of a real old-fashioned English 

 summer. Broad brown acres of fertile soil are now 

 undergoing the various preparations for their bounteous 

 crops. The turnip fields take an undue proportion of 

 the farmer's toil, and here the spring flights of Yellow 



