244 BIRD-LAND ECHOES. 



not deeper into the forest, but directly overhead. 

 As I followed their flight, I saw why they had sought 

 the open country : the clouds were breaking, and, 

 while I looked, the sunshine broke over the woods, 

 rushed up the old wood-road, and met me half-way 

 under the old oaks. What a superb sight ! A flood 

 of sunshine was on the untrodden snow. The 

 wreathed branches of the little cedars, the sinuous 

 growth of greenbrier and bittersweet, muffled in 

 ermine, and sunshine, merry as a May day, glittering 

 over all. 



What of wild life at such a time? Would the 

 birds come back ? Would the timid rabbit venture 

 abroad, or the sly weasel dart by me ? There ought 

 to be so much life, in days like these ; but this is no 

 unhunted country. Shut in by a snow-storm, it 

 seems a wilderness ; but the crowing cock is hard 

 by, and the watch-dog's bark reaches its outermost 

 bounds. No mouse, even, may show itself, but the 

 mice are here ; no mink may clamber to the snow's 

 surface, but his home is in the hill-side, and I can 

 wait Here come the birds again, a dozen noisy 

 blue-jays. How well they suit the landscape ! 



What, is the jay more precious than the lark, 

 Because his feathers are more beautiful ? 



This has been asked, and I give the unexpected 

 answer, " Yes, by far." Neither jay nor lark is much 

 by itself; put either in a cage, and you will find this 

 true enough. Their value is in proportion to their 

 being in place, and no languid lay of a lark would 



