THE GLORIES OF THE SPRING. 7 



part of the nest. The pair of Chiffchaffs are 

 brimful of joy ; you can see it in their expressive 

 eyes, and observe it in their every action. Then 

 comes the long period of incubation ; male and 

 female sharing the loving task between them ; 

 until finally their patience and their self-sacrifice 

 are rewarded by the appearance of six wee, 

 tender, weakly nestlings. All through the 

 lengthening spring days the faithful little parents 

 feed and tend their brood, watch over them and 

 care for them until they are able to quit the nest 

 and begin life for themselves. 



There is something in the very air of spring 

 conducive to musing on the secrets of wild life. 

 For me it is a season of wonderment and awe, 

 and always inspires thoughts that bear upon the 

 higher philosophy of the science I love. To 

 watch the stirring pageant of life being marshalled 

 into review order by that one grand solar force is 

 pleasure indeed. Then right through the glorious 

 spring-time the mental faculties of birds may be 

 studied most advantageously, and note-books may 

 be filled with charming facts bearing upon this 

 fascinating subject. This is the season for the 

 awakening of life, and the commencement of 

 Nature's revels. The woods and fields are full of 

 objects of interest ; every day increases their 

 abundance. No pen can do justice to the glories 

 of the spring. In every direction life in count- 

 less varied forms is appearing. Let the naturalist 

 revel in the feast which Nature so unstintingly 



