SPRING. 23 



A Blackbird sings right lustily from yonder 

 spruce tree. Old Sol, red and bleary, mounts 

 into the heavens, and sheds his warmth around. 

 The rime rapidly disappears, and the earth 

 glows, sending forth a warm, moist heat. The 

 Lambs gambol and play on the mound of 

 earth, and the Hares chase each other over 

 the lea. The ploughman whistles a merry 

 tune as he drives on his pair, and in his 

 wake follow a crowd of Sea-maws, Rooks, and 

 Daws, feeding on the upturned worms. A flock 

 of " Cushies " rise from the field of young 

 grasses, where they had been feeding on the 

 succulent clover plants. 



A Wheat-Ear not long arrived flies with 

 undulating motion along the roadside, and a 

 Weasel, startled, pops out his head from a 

 "bing" of stones, his white breast showing 

 distinctly against the grey boulders. On the 

 river bank the Water-Hens are chasing each 

 other, and on a willow bush the little perky 

 Wren, with his tail " cockit," sings his sweet 



