EARLY SPRING 



High up, a flock of fieldfares wing their northward 

 flight, strange choice to flee from genial spring ! No 

 more their cheery note ' tchack-tchack ' will sound 

 till winter's cold returns. 

 The dawn has awakened 

 a thousand throats to 

 welcome in the day, but 

 as the sun climbs up- 

 ward bird labour begins, 

 and noon finds them 

 almost silent, for there is 

 much to do; the work of select- 

 ing a suitable nesting spot and 

 the gathering of the necessary 

 building materials is so absorbing, 

 that they have only time to utter 

 broken notes and happy courtship 

 calls ; but, when evening comes, 

 they burst forth into song again and 

 close these joyous days of life with 

 melody. 



Unlike other birds, the lark seems 

 unable to suppress his joy, and springing 



67 5-2 



MIGRATING 

 FIELDFARES 



ORANGE TIP BUTTERFLY 

 ON LADY'S SMOCK 



(photographed alive) 



