RUSTLING WINGS l8l 



though the trees showed green-netted 

 apples instead of curving buds. One 

 tree, that autumn's storms had stripped 

 of leaves, stretched out a branch set 

 with flowers, and a greedy bud-eating 

 vireo clung to it as if it had bloomed 

 for his sole benefit. All the birds 

 were fearless and hungry, or perhaps 

 their hunger caused their lack of fear. 

 They looked with scorn at the jays, 

 who kept at a distance, for now the 

 eggs, which they had threatened in 

 spring, were sturdy birds capable of 

 self-protection : — 



" Turn, turn my wheel ! All life is brief : 

 What now is bud will soon be leaf, 



What now is leaf will soon decay; 

 The wind blows east, the wind blows west; 

 The blue eggs in the robin's nest 

 Will soon have wings and beak and breast, 



And flutter and fly away." 



Along the lane, the fox-sparrows 



