BIRDS ftND NftTURE. 



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ILLUSTRATED BY COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY. 



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Vol. XII. DECEMBER, 1902. No. 5 



DECEMBER. 



When the feud of hot and cold 



Leaves the autumn woodlands bare; 

 When the year is getting old, 



And flowers are dead, and keen the air; 



When the crow has nev/ concern, 



And early sounds his raucous note; 

 And — where the late witch-hazels burn- — 



The squirrel from a chuckling throat 



Tells that one larder's space is filled, 



And tilts upon a towering tree ; 

 And, valiant, quick, and keenly thrilled, 



Upstarts the tiny chickadee ; 



When the sun's still shortening arc 



Too soon night's shadows dun and gray 

 Brings on, and fields are drear and dark. 



And summer birds have flown away, — 



I feel the year's slow-beating heart, 



The sky's chill prophecy I know; 

 And welcome the consummate art 



Which weaves this spotless shroud of snow ! 



— Joel Benton, in ''Songs of Nature." 



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