Heard on the Hill-Side. 67 



dead branches scattered by the storms of the 

 past winter. If it squeaks when startled, why ? 

 Follow the actions now of the mouse and trace 

 the cause of the sound to the shadow of the 

 hawk you see sailing over you. To simply hear 

 a sound is not all. To listen, to realize the full 

 intent and purpose of every variation in the 

 sound, to note the accompanying gesture with 

 each characteristic utterance, whenever possible ; 

 in short, to appreciate the effort on an animal's 

 or bird's part to interpret its own feelings, this 

 is to listen intelligently, and in so doing to be 

 taught a useful lesson in ornithology. There 

 is profit, then, as well as pleasure in being 

 abroad on a bright April morning like this, 

 and noting, whether we stroll along the foot- 

 path way or stand by some one of the old 

 oaks, whatsoever is to be heard on the hill-side. 

 But the skies are not always bright. We have 

 heard much of tearful April, and of the showers 

 that are so common during the month ; but the 

 effect of these varying conditions upon bird-life 

 does not appear to have been closely observed. 

 Cloudiness is not necessarily a drawback to a 

 day. There must be low temperature, chilly 



