Chapter I: Introduction: ix

I. SPRING! SPRING! SPRING! 1
II. THE SPRING RUNNING 7
III. AN OLD APPLE TREE 13
IV. A CHAPTER OF THINGS TO SEE THIS SPRING 26
V. IF YOU HAD WINGS 33
VI. A CHAPTER OF THINGS TO DO THIS SPRING 41
VII. THE PALACE IN THE PIG-PEN 48
VIII. IS IT A LIFE OF FEAR? 60
IX. THE BUZZARD OF THE BEAR SWAMP 76
X. A CHAPTER OF THINGS TO HEAR THIS SPRING 86
XI. TURTLE EGGS FOR AGASSIZ 94
XII. AN ACCOUNT WITH NATURE 115
XIII. WOODS MEDICINE 127
NOTES AND SUGGESTIONS 137

ILLUSTRATIONS

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