Heard on the Hill-Side. 71 



so when the nest is again in order. Their 

 new year has commenced, and after perhaps two 

 or three days of dry and dusty weather, let 

 these be followed by an afternoon shower, and 

 this in turn by a flood of golden sunshine 

 through the dripping trees, and it is a peewee's 

 holiday, or, more strictly speaking, holy hour. 

 Then the two short notes are lengthened into 

 song, and so rapidly repeated that stirring music 

 fills the freshened air, and we know that spring 

 is here. The few new leaves of the hardiest 

 shrubs make green all creation at such a time. 

 If far away from the peewee's home, you have 

 something closely akin to this sudden accession 

 of excitability and emphasized bird-song, after 

 an April shower, in the song and movements 

 of the dainty little field-sparrow. This delight- 

 ful bird feels strongly the influence of the pass- 

 ing shower, and sings so much more vigorously 

 than usual that I believe its song can be heard 

 at twice as great a distance. Those of us who 

 rush in-doors at the appearance of rain lose a 

 great deal, and more, again, in not taking a 

 hint from the birds and rushing out of doors as 

 soon as the last drop has fallen. Be it birds or 



