THE HERALDS OF MARCH 



UNDER this heading I had meant to deal with 

 the return of the Plover and Lapwing, having 

 in mind a Galloway rhyme, 



" Whaup, Whimbrel, an' Plover, 

 Whan these whustle the worst o' t's over ! " 



But on consideration it was evident that 

 March has so complicated an orchestral pre- 

 lude that the name could hardly be given to 

 any one group of birds. Does not another 



rhyme go, 



" The Lavrock, the Mavis, 

 The Woodlark, the Plover, 

 March brings them back 

 Because Winter is over." 



But March brings back so many birds ! There 

 is another bird-rhyme . . . 



" When the Song-Thrush is ready to laugh, 

 Ye'll hear the Woodlark an' the Wheatear an' the Chaff." 



Well, the Song -Thrush has been 'ready to 



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