viii ILLUSTRATIONS 



FOOD FOR THE NUTHATCHES ... = .... 76 

 THE MOURNING-CLOAK BUTTERFLY, AN EARLY FLITTER . 77 

 A RUFFED GROUSE TRAIL . . ..*... .78 

 "THE SNOW HAD MELTED FROM THE RIVER MEADOWS" . . 80 

 " CARRYING A BIG BOB-TAILED VOLE OUT OF MY ' MOWING ' " 85 

 " SCURRYING THROUGH THE TOPS OF SOME PITCH PINES " . . 90 

 " ALL THE AFTERNOON THE CROWS HAVE BEEN GOING OVER " 93 



THE DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS, OR DUCK-BILL 97 



THE ECHIDNA, OR PORCUPINE ANT-EATER 98 



" STANDING BEFORE A LARGE 'POSSUM " < 99 



" OUT SHE SPILLED AND NINE LITTLE 'POSSUMS WITH HER " 100 

 " A GREAT BLUE HERON WOULD BEAT PONDEROUSLY ACROSS " 106 

 MEADOW MOUSE "!NA DRIFTING CATBIRD'S NEST" . . 109 

 "A LITTLE FIGURE IN YELLOW OIL-SKINS " ..... 114 

 " DREW A LIMP LITTLE FORM OUT OF THE WATER " . . . 121 

 QUAIL " ONE OF THE COVEY CALLING THE FLOCK TOGETHER" 127 

 "A FLOCK OF ROBINS DASHING INTO THE CEDARS " . . . 131 

 PUSSY- WILLOWS AND WATERCRESS . . . . . 132 

 " THE HAZELNUT BUSHES ARE IN BLOOM " . ... . 133 

 BLUEBIRD " LIKE A BIT OF SUMMER SKY " 135 



