BIRDS AND NATURE. ILLUSTRATED BY COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY. Vol. XI. MAY, 1902. No. 5. CONTENTS. “HARK, HARK, THE LARK!” 193 THE LITTLE GREEN HERON. (_Ardea virescens._) 194 THE HAND THAT STRUCK THEE DOWN. 197 THE GOBBLER WHO WAS LONESOME. A HISTORICAL FACT. 198 THE VARIED THRUSH. (_Hesperocichla naevia._) 201 MISSOURI SKYLARK. (_Anthus spragueii._) 202 THE MASTER’S PROTEST. 203 THE SHORT-BILLED MARSH WREN. (_Cistothorus stellaris._) 204 TWAIN LOVES OF JEREMIAH. 207 THE ORIOLE. 209 THE ORCHARD ORIOLE. 210 THE PRAIRIE WARBLER. (_Dendroica discolor._) 213 APRIL BIRDS AND FLOWERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST. 214 BIRTH STONES. 216 APPLE BLOSSOMS AND THE WARBLERS. 220 RURAL RAMBLES. 222 THE HORSE. (_Equus caballus._) 225 A MELODY. 227 THE VERBENAS. 228 THE BLUE SPRING DAISY. (_Erigeron pulchellus._) 228 THE LITTLE FEATHERED BOYS AND GIRLS. 231 THE COTTON PLANT. (_Gossypium barbadense, L._) 232 THE CLOUD. 236 INDEX. Volume XI—January, 1902, to May, 1902, inclusive. 237 “HARK, HARK, THE LARK!” A little lyric, as clear as water, Sweeter voiced than the river daughter, Or Dryope’s moan, Rang from the heart of the truest singer, And straight the sound was the magic bringer Of joys unknown. For night had fallen and day had risen, And, breaking through his eastern prison, The glad sun shone; And all was fragrant and sweet with morning, And to the sky, the sad earth scorning, The lark had flown. And, faintly heard from the coast of heaven, The song of the glad strong seraphs seven Was earthward blown, And echoed, with a strange completeness, (As a small bloom treasures infinite sweetness), In the lyric’s tone.