EARLY GLIMPSES 



ent that he is able with some degree of thorough- 

 ness and in a leisurely fashion to acquaint himself The month 

 with the appearance and habits of one bird or Z>uid-be 

 species at a time. In the second place, at this or ™ tbol °- 

 season the trees and bushes are leafless, affording 

 an almost unobstructed view of the birds that light 

 on their branches, whereas later in the year the 

 masses of foliage constantly interrupt our obser- 

 vations. 



In April it becomes less easy to keep count of 

 the new arrivals in the bird-world, for soon they 

 reach us in great numbers. Now we may hope 

 to hear the ecstatic, bubbling notes of the purple April 

 finch, the penetrating whistle of the peabody bird, 

 the fine trill of the chipping sparrow, the spring- 

 like call of the meadow-lark, and the varied songs 

 of kinglets, vireos, warblers, and many others. 

 But even though these additions are so rapid as 

 to be confusing, the trees are still almost bare, and 

 the lover of birds should be abroad constantly. 



At times now the piping of the frogs is more 

 noticeable than the bird-songs. Near a pond or Frogs and 

 close to marshy ground, just before sunset, the 

 predominant sound is the shrill pipe of the hylas. 



A very inconspicuous but significant sign of 

 the season is found, after diligent search, in the 

 branches of the hazel. Scarcely later than the 

 maple-blossoms the little pistillate flower of this 



27 



