NATURE'S CALENDAR 



heaps and brush piles ready to be burned 

 in the spring, coming out upon the fence 

 post or way-side trees to sing their morn- 

 ing roundelay and take their daily airing 

 in pleasant weather. In the open mead- 

 ows are the grass finches, snow-birds, and 

 the few robins and med'larks that stay 

 with us ; in the edge of the woods the 

 blue jay, flicker, and the butcher bird ; in 

 the orchards and evergreens the cross- 

 bills, the pine grosbeaks, red polls, and 

 cedar bird ; the deep woods shelter the 

 tiny nuthatches, titmice, and the little 

 woodpeckers ; the open sky afTords space 

 for the birds of prey, and the sea-shore 

 harbors for the gulls, sea ducks, and fish- 

 hawks. ... In very severe weather the 

 wildest birds are often compelled to come 

 close to the house and barn in search of 

 out-door relief from gentle hands." 



Towards the end of the month, how- 

 ever, the northward movement begins, in 

 spite of the bad weather surely to follow, 

 and during the last week the observer 

 may note a decided increase of such 

 avaiit couriers as the grakles, starlings, 

 and robins, while the song sparrow is 

 tuning up, and some of the hardy birds 

 of prey are thinking of nest-building. 



It is exceedingly fortunate that all the 

 birds do not leave us in this month of 

 outward desolation, for nothing so much 

 as their cheerful presence in the February 

 fields helps to keep alive in our hearts 

 the sense of summer. 



February 24 



February 25 



