74 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [7 :3— Mar., 1911 



jays scolding about the way breakfast is served. Frequent reports 

 of the "phoebe bird" indicate that the chickadees have been guilty 

 •of ventriloquizing ; now and then a hawk is seen, or perchance an 

 owl. 



The boys capture their first crayfishes (known to them as 

 "crabs") ; perhaps a venturesome green snake or garter snake is 

 seen; rain brings the season's first earthworms to the sidewalk. 

 A stray fly or ant indoors surmises that spring is at hand. The 

 dog and the horse shed a surprisingly quantity of hair. 



The grass in favored nooks hints of returning green. The 

 gardener constructs his hotbed out-of-doors, while indoors, in 

 "flats". on the window sill, he sows the seed of flowers and early 

 vegetables that are to be transplanted. Nursery, and seed cata- 

 logues do frequent service. 



Second Week — 



Snow disappearing; perhaps uncomfortably warm, followed 

 Dy raw weather or heavy snow fall ; trees likely to be coated with 

 ice or hoar frost, making a fairy landscape. High water in the 

 •creek. 



The first song sparrow and the first bronzed grackle (crow 

 Dlackbird). Robins and meadow larks abundant; small flocks 

 of bluebirds are seen. The noisy crows seem to have important 

 matters on hand. The whistle of the horned lark still sounds in 

 the fields. An occasional tree sparrow on the tree-top while the 

 gregarious snowbirds (junco) flit beneath. Wild geese rest upon 

 the breaking ice of the lake. 



Chicken fanciers are busy with incubators and brooders; 

 perhaps in some localities there may be discovered an old-fash- 

 ioned setting hen. 



Of the trees, the sugar maple is the favorite at this season. 



The days are appreciably longer. Seeds are sown in hotbed. 

 A garden plan is drawn. Sweet peas are planted and trees are 

 pruned. 



Third Week- 

 Trie winter overcoat is shed — temporarily. Thunderstorms 

 are succeeded by cold waves. The ambitious grass fares poorly 

 in its attempt to observe St. Patrick's Day. 



Soft maple, elms, box elder and horse chestnut buds swol- 

 len ; in some years the soft maple and perhaps the American elm 

 show early bloom. Lilac buds often open. Premature dande- 



