In New England Fields And Woods

In New-England Fields and Woods - 1896 - THE weather and the changes of the seasons are such common and convenient topics that one need not apologize for talking about them, though he says nothing new. Still less need one make an apology if he becomes garrulous in relation to scenes which are now hidden from him by a curtain of darkness, or concerning some humble acquaintances with whom . he was once on familiar terms, but who now and hereafter can only be memories, though they are yet near him and he may still hear their voices. So without excuse I offer this collection of sketches, which with a few exceptions were first published in the columns of Forest and Stream. R. E. R. -- CONTENTS -- I . THE NAMELESSSE ASON . . . . I I1 . MARCHD AYS . . . . . . . S I11 . THE HOME FIRESIDE . . . . I3 IV . THE CROW . . . . . . . . 17 V . THE MINK . . . . . . . . 22 V1 . APRIL DAYS . . . . . . . . 27 V11 . THE WOODCHUC . K . . . . . 33 V111 . THE CHIPMUNK . . . . . . 37 IX . SPRINGS HOOTING . . . . . . 40 X . THE GARTER-SNAK . E . . . . 43 XI . THE TOAD . . . . . . . . 48 XI1 . MAY DAYS . . . . . . . . 52 XI11 . THE BOBOLINK . . . . . . . 56 XIV . THE GOLDEN . W INGEDW OOD-PECKER . . . . . . . . . 59 XV . JUNE DAYS . . . . . . . . 63 XVI . THE BULLFROG . 66 XVII . THE ANGLER . . . . . 70 XVIII . FARMER AN S D FIELD S PORTS . 79 XIX . To A TRESPASS IGN . . . . 84 . XX . A GENTLE S PORTSM . A N 88 XXI . JULY DAYS . . . . . . . . 91 XXII . CAMPING O UT . g8 XXIII . THE CAMP-FIRE . . . . . . 103 XXIV . A RAINY DAY IN CAMP . 107 XXV . AUGUSTD AYS . . 113 XXVI . A VOYAGE IN THE DARK . 118 XXVII . THE SUMMERC AMP-FIRE . 129 XXVIII . THE RACCOON . . . . . . . 132 XXIX . THE RELUCTANCTA MP-FIR . E . 141 ...v111 CONTENTS . XXX . SEPTEMBERD AYS . . . . . . XXXI . A PLEA FOR THE UNPROTECTED XXXII . THE SKUNK . . . . . . . . XXXIII . A CAMP-FIRE R UN WILD . . . XXXIV . THE DEAD CAMP-FIRE . . . . XXXV . OCTOBERD AYS . . . . . . . XXXVI . A COMMONE XPERIENCE . . . XXXVII . THE RED SQUIRREL . . . . . XXXVIII . THE RUFFED GROUSE . . . . XXXIX . Two SHOTS . . . . . . . . XL . NOVEMBEDRA YS . . . . . . XL1 . THE MUSKRAT . . . . . . . XL11 . NOVEMBEVRO ICES . . . . . XLIII . THANKSGIV . IN . G . . . . . XLIV . DECEMBEDRA YS . . . . . . XLV . WINTERV OICES . . . . . . XLVI . THE VARYINGH ARE . . . . . XLVII . THE WINTERC AMP-FIRE . . . XLVIII . JANUARYDA YS . . . . . . . XLIX . A NEW ENGLANDW OODPILE . L . A CENTURY OF EXTERMINATION L1 . THE PERSISTENC O Y F PESTS . . L11 . THE WEASEL . . . . . . . L111 . FEBRUARDYA YS . . . . . . LIV . THE F OX . . . . . . . . . LV . AN ICE-STORM . . . . . . . LVI . SPARE T HE TREES . . . . . . LVII . THE CHICKADEE . . . . . . IN NEW ENGLAND FIELDS AND WOODS THE NAMELESS SEASON IN the March page of our almanac, opposite the 20th of the month we find the bold assertion, Now spring begins but in the northern part of New England, for which this almanac was especially compiled, the weather does not bear out the statement. The snow may be gone from the fields except in grimy drifts, in hollows and along fences and woodsides but there is scarcely a sign of spring in the nakedness of pasture, meadow, and ploughed land, now more dreary in the dun desolation of lifeless grass, dtbris of stacks, and black furrows than when the first snow covered the lingering greenness of December...