2 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



dormant through the wintry blasts come out into 

 the world again and flit and leap about for joy. 

 In early spring the whole realm of Nature seems 

 like a restless sleeper about to awaken after the 

 long winter's night. Every day the buds on trees 

 and hedges expand more and more, and many a tiny 

 shoot may be detected amongst the carpet of dead 

 leaves. The hazel bushes are gay with tasselled 

 ornaments ; primroses cast their pale faces upwards 

 from the mossy banks, snowdrops and daffodils 

 carpet the woodland glades. The woods, which 

 in winter looked gray and net-like, appear much 

 more dense when viewed from a distance, and 

 brown tints steal imperceptibly over them as the 

 millions of tiny buds swell out. 



Wherever we may wander during the months 

 of spring, we never need be at a loss for instruction 

 and amusement. In the cool, green woods, when 

 May has carpeted them with bluebells ; by the 

 stream, as the softest shades of greenery steal 

 over the alder trees ; on the moors, whose wide 

 expanse is the chosen haunt of many interesting 

 birds ; along the lanes ; in the fields ; by the sea- 

 shore everywhere the glories of spring are unfold- 

 ing. Here we may muse on the secrets of the life 

 around us ; here we may study its philosophy, and 

 enjoy its manifold pleasures. 



One of the greatest triumphs which natural 

 science has achieved in modern times is the re- 

 cognition it has succeeded in obtaining for the 

 mental capabilities of the lower animals. The 



