CHAPTER VI 



THE period during which the majority of our 

 birds return to us after the winter's absence 

 is a time of peculiar advantage to the bird- 

 lover. It seems good to welcome back our friends, 

 and these pioneers give an especial thrill of pleasure. 

 This feeling is the more enhanced because of the 

 scarcity of birds during the winter. There is, too, 

 a certain delight in being afield at the time when 

 Nature is awakening, when the sun beams warm 

 again, causing the spring aroma to arise from the 

 fruitful earth and the early flowers modestly to open 

 to our view. It might seem as though there were 

 beauty enough to call people forth from their shells 

 of sedentary employment even apart from the birds. 

 Yet these will furnish an immediate motive without 

 which many a ramble would be lost or postponed. 



It is a fascinating no less than a healthful pursuit 

 to " keep tab " on the arrival of the spring birds. As 

 though realizing that it is important to make a good 

 impression, they come arrayed in their very best gar- 

 ments, all of these new, and some a wedding outfit. 



Everything considered, the birds are remarkably 

 regular in their return each spring according to cal- 



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