NATURE'S CALENDAR 



over, they are in need of richer pasturage 

 than they have been having. The deer 

 resort to ponds to feed on succulent 

 aquatic plants. 



As for the birds, those who are inter- 

 ested in their nesting must now keep 

 sharply on the lookout, as well as those 

 who wish to greet all the migrants as fast 

 as they come from the South. The late- 

 ness or earliness of the season affects 

 both these aspects of bird life; but ar- 

 rivals are constant, and the earlier com- 

 ers are housekeeping before the montli 

 expires. 



Many ducks pass northward in the 

 earlier part of April, and the winter 

 ducks catch the infection and depart witli 

 them, as also do some bay-birds. Their 

 place on the coast and in the marshes 

 is taken by the arrival from the South of 

 resident coots, rails, and members of the 

 heron tribe, which come during the first 

 fortnight. The first week usually brings 

 to us the kingfisher, some small sparrows, 

 white - bellied swallows, the house - wren 

 (a little before the departure of the winter 

 wren), and a few others. 



These are closely followed by the sea- 

 side and some other sparrows on the 

 heels of the northward-bound fox spar- 

 rows, and by the purple martins, bank 

 swallows, brown thrashers, and the earli- 

 est warblers, like the blackburnian. The 

 third week brings still more— whippoor- 

 wills, chimney swifts, chewinks, barn swal- 



