34 NATURE'S STORY OF THE YEAR 



them, answers the call, and, avoiding with a 

 half-stroke of wing the pretended blow, swings 

 up to the fateful higher poise, and in the like 

 playfulness threatens her suitor with the falcon 

 death. Thus occupied, the two birds forget 

 that in fields below them the sunshine has 

 brought the vole to the mouth of his burrow, 

 to sleek his fur in the warmth ; they no longer 

 dread the keeper's gun. Up and up they go, 

 alone in the blue vault, while, maybe, the 

 labourer below, munching his crust under a 

 hedge, sighs as he watches their freedom. 



The call of spring is heard not only along 

 the land, it echoes through the reeking dead 

 leaves ; farther yet, in the soaked ground ; in 

 mud as in mould ; where creatures are aroused 

 from the oblivion that saved them from the 

 cold. Forth from damp seclusion come the 

 toad and frog, making slowly for the nearest 

 piece of water, on whose banks their voices 

 will unite in dolorous chant. The toads are the 

 more noisy, and their high-toned " work-work " 

 may be heard from every horse-pond. Frogs 

 are less often seen and heard at this season ; 



