ANOTHER MAY MORNING. 65 



that is common to North America and western or 

 southern Ontario, but is not often seen to the north 

 and east. This is the Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus 

 Americanus), a bird of quiet and retiring habits, seen 

 generally in orchards and in groves on the banks of 

 rivers. 



May 21st.— Another lovely day. The air is full of 

 sweet sounds and lovely sights. The young leaves are 

 bursting on every spray of bush and tree. 



Many of our wild-flowers that did n.t come forth in 

 their usual season, April, are now pushing out their 

 blossoms as if in haste to meet the tardy warmth which" 

 has been so long withheld from the earth this year. I 

 am glad to see them. Better late than never. 



In the woods, under last year's sheltering bed of 

 fallen leaves, they have bloomed because protected from 

 the chilling winds ; but here in the open borders of my , 

 garden they are late, very late. B..t why quarrel with 

 the delay, since I now see the milk-white stars of the 

 Blood-root, so large and fine, gleaming brightly in the 

 gay sunshine this May morning. 



These beautiful flowers improve under cultivation, 

 and are double the size of those in the grove close by. 



The flowers of the sweet Liver-leaf (Ifepiitica triloba 

 and llepatica rotundiflora) are all out, a crowd of lovely 

 starry blossoms of many hues — pink, blue, pale lilac and 

 pure white. Delicate in scent, too, they are. The new 

 spring leaves are unfolding, clothed with shining silk 



