26 WILD NATURE IN STRATHEARN. 



' ' Chill airs and wintry winds ! my ear 



Has grown familiar with your song ; 

 I hear it in the opening year, 

 I listen and it cheers me long." 



We linger in the warm sunshine. We miss 

 the darting Swallows, for they have not yet 

 arrived from their African sojourn ; but the 

 Thrush proclaims spring in a joyous mood 

 from the top of a high tree. Everything 

 seems bursting into life ; the buds and leaves 

 are new and fresh. 



" It's spring that moves the una wakened forest, 



Clothing with leaves its branches bare and bleak." 



The Squirrel, as he runs up the trunks of 

 the trees, is evidence of the spring, for he 

 hibernates. The Yellow Hammer, or " yite," is 

 now in voice, and the pert and familiar 

 "Shilfa" is fraternising with the Sparrows. 

 The Corncrake has not yet arrived. Bullfinches, 

 by no means plentiful, are picking at the buds 

 on the berry bushes. Insect life is still scarce. 

 A solitary humble Bee is all that is to be 

 seen. All animal and vegetable life is on the 



