70 IN BIRD-LAND 



grees warmer, snow and ice melted, leaving only a 

 few patches where it had drifted. In the shadow 

 of high oaks a patch still remains showing the 

 tracks of rabbits as well as many footmarks of 

 searching Rooks. Wherever the snow lies the 

 beautiful whiteness has disappeared ; in places it 

 has been scratched away, showing numbers of dead 

 oak leaves and some fine earth over the surface 

 the signs that some hungry bird or animal has 

 been searching for food. 



But now that one can hear a Sky-Lark singing 

 above, we forget winter with its hardships, and 

 look forward with new hopes to spring and 

 summer, which to a roving naturalist must 

 naturally be the most enjoyable time of the year, 

 although winter itself is full of studies not to be 

 despised. Just before sunset, little swarms of 

 humming gnats, as demonstrative harbingers of 

 spring, are to be seen flying in warm, sheltered 

 places. The Missel-Thrushes are already busy 

 looking out for eligible nesting sites, and in course 

 of a few days all of these will be busily engaged 

 in building. They are now in that condition 

 of healthy and interesting excitement which 

 precedes their most important enterprise in life. 



A few days more pass and spring seems actually 

 to have come ; for by a hedgerow is found a 



