THE FIRST ROBIN. 



3 



are so bright is because they all belong to what Nature 

 evidently intended to be the decorative sex. 



On account of the steady cold of the past season, 

 there having been no real thaw during the three 

 winter months, a solid mass of ice and snow has lin- 

 gered longer than usual; but the birds do not seem 

 especially late. In looking over my records for the 

 past eight years, the earliest date for a robin reads, 

 March 15, 1902; but a parenthesis is appended, 

 " Heard ten days earlier." This year I shall write, 

 "Seen and heard March 19." Thoreau says he must 

 be a bold man who can declare with certainty that he 

 has seen the first bird or flower of the season in any 

 township. He also says that different years vary a 

 whole month in respect to these dates. 



I heard the soft warble of the bluebirds this morn- 

 ing, but I was not fortunate enough to catch a glimpse 

 of their azure backs, though flocks were seen at White 

 Park, and probably in other places. The dingy, 

 snow-clad meadows will be well striped with bare 

 ground in a day or two, and then we shall hear the 

 dear song sparrows with their "Maids, maids, maids, 

 put on the tea-kettle,-ettle,-ettle,-ettle ! ' ' But nothing 

 can ever be more welcome than the cheerful shout of 

 the robin. 



