

/3S- 



238 THE PROCESSION OF SPRING 



this the wood-wren, whose nest, externally, is so much 

 like theirs, never does. 



The wryneck, and all the tits, except of course the 

 long-tailed tit, may easily be induced to nest in boxes 

 fixed up in the garden trees. These tiny birds are 

 marvellously bold when nesting. You may carry the 

 box, nest, bird, and all from place to place, and 

 provided you do so quietly the bird will not take 

 wing. 



About this time one begins to notice on the garden 

 paths many tops of spruce-fir branches. The squirrel 

 \ is the culprit. It is a pity he does this, as it prejudices 

 the gardener against him. And why he does so it is 

 hard to say, unless he has a taste for turpentine. The 

 squirrel displays a great degree of cunning in the 

 building, though none in the position, of its drey, or 

 nest. Instead of springing from branch to branch as 

 -; - at other times, it runs with each load of moss or leaves 

 to the base of the next tree, and so ascends. So that 

 the drey is half finished before its presence is sus- 

 pected. Yet, when surprised, the little creature holds 

 its ground with a dfegree of boldness that would do 

 credit to a lion. It will stamp and "chuckut," ad- 

 vancing and retreating in angry jerks as if daring us to 

 attack. Like most nest-builders, it works hardest in 



