40 
EARLY SPRING IN MASSACHUSETTS. 
p-’s was surprised to see on the snow over 
the river a great many seeds and scales of 
birches, though the snow had so recently fal¬ 
len. There had been but little wind, and it 
was already spring. There was one seed or 
scale to a square foot, yet the nearest birches 
were, about fifteen of them, along the wall 
thirty rods east. As I advanced towards them 
the seeds became thicker and thicker till they 
quite discolored the snow half a dozen rods 
distant, while east of the birches there was not 
one. The birches appear not to have lost a 
quarter of their seeds yet. So I went home up 
the river. I saw some of the seeds forty rods 
off, and perhaps in a more favorable direction 
I might have found them much farther. It 
suggested how unwearied nature is in spread¬ 
ing her seeds. Even the spring does not find 
her unprovided with birch, aye, and alder and 
pine, seed. A great proportion of the seed that 
was carried to a distance lodged in the hollow 
over the river, and when the river breaks up 
will be carried far away to distant shores and 
meadows. .... 
I can hardly believe that hen-hawks may be 
beginning to build their nests now, yet their 
young were a fortnight old the last of April 
last year. 
March 2, 1858. I walk through the Colburn 
