SPRING OF THE YEAR--SHADBUSH _Frontispiece_ HYLAS PEEPING “SPRING!” 1 “THE EARLIEST BLOODROOT” 4 THE TURKEY-HEN--“HALF A MILE FROM HOME” 8 CATFISH FAMILY 12 SCREECH OWL--“OUT OVER THE MEADOW HE SAILS” 17 TREE-TOAD--“COMES FORTH TO THE EDGE OF HIS HOLE” 23 SKUNK-CABBAGE AND BUMBLEBEE 27 A SUNFISH OVER ITS NEST 29 CRESTED FLYCATCHER WITH SNAKE-SKIN 31 “ONE OF MY LITTLE BAND OF CROWS” 33 YOUNG PAINTED TURTLE, FROGS’ EGGS, SNAILS, AND WHIRLIGIG BEETLES 45 “ONE LIVE TOAD UNDER YOUR DOORSTEP” 46 PHŒBE AND HER YOUNG 55 PIKE AND MINNOWS 62 FOX BARKING--“UPON THE BARE KNOLL NEAR THE HOUSE” 66 PINE MARTEN AND CHIPMUNK 71 “UPON ONE OF THESE THE BUZZARD SAT HUMPED” 79 YOUNG TURKEY BUZZARD 83 BROWN THRASHER--“OUR FINEST, MOST GIFTED SONGSTER” 87 PAINTED TURTLE--“BEGAN TO BURY HERSELF” 103 CHIPMUNK EATING JUNE-BUGS 117 “TWO TUMBLE-BUGS TRYING TO ROLL THEIR BALL UP HILL” 127 “THE BOX TURTLES SCUFF CARELESSLY ALONG” 130 INTRODUCTION