SNOW-BIRDS. 247 



the chirping of the sparrows in the hedge. Sel- 

 dom, indeed, are the snow-birds alone. There 

 are several other species of the same family (the 

 finches) here in the same weedy pastures, and far 

 oftener all are singing than that any are silent. 

 Autumn, either early or late, is never a dismal 

 season. As you wander in the woods or near 

 them, you can not say 



" I walk as one 

 Who treads alone 



Some banquet hall deserted." 



What Summer took away with her Autumn 

 has replaced. There has been a shifting of 

 scenes, but the actors are as numerous as before. 

 The round of the seasons is a serio-comic drama 

 with no heroes, or with every creature one, as 

 you happen to view it. 



In midwinter, when the deep snows come 

 if they come at all how effectually the snow- 

 birds enliven what might otherwise be a dreary 

 outlook ! On the projecting twigs above the 

 huge drifts they gather, and, plunging down 

 deeply into the snow, find seeds on many a sturdy 

 weed that winter winds have not cast down. 

 Their curious antics at such a time, so vividly 

 described by Lockwood, make us forget that the 

 day is cold, and, whatever the weather, I would 

 rather be among the birds and see them close at 

 17 



