A very ordinary New England "corner" . . 64 

 They are the first to return in the spring . . 67 

 Where the dams are hawking for flies ... 70 

 They cut across the rainbow . . . . .75 

 The barn-swallows fetch the summer . . .77 



From the barn to the orchard 78 



Across the road, in an apple-tree, built a pair of 



redstarts 80 



Gathered half the gray hairs of a dandelion into 



her beak 83 



In the tree next to the chebec's was a brood of 

 robins. The crude nest was wedged carelessly 

 into the lowest fork of the tree, so that the cats 

 and roving boys could help themselves without 



trouble 85 



I soon spied him on the wires of a telegraph-pole 88 

 He will come if May comes . . . . .91 

 Within a few feet of me dropped the lonely fright- 

 ened quail 92 



On they go to a fence-stake 94 



It was a love-song 96 



But the pair kept on together, chatting brightly 101 



In a dead yellow birch 103 



So close I can look directly into it . . . . 104 



"Spring! spring! spring!" 114 



A wretched little puddle 117 



Calamity is hot on his track 140 



Bunny, meantime, is watching just inside the 



next brier-patch 143 



[xiv] 



