—Lowell.
February.
Sometimes a flock of strange birds descends upon us from the north—the crossbills. There is an old tradition that the red upon their breast was caused by the blood of our Saviour, as they sought to free Him with their bills from the cross.
“And that bird is called the Crossbill,
Covered all with blood so dear,
In the groves of pine it singeth
Songs, like legends, strange to hear.”
—Longfellow.
March.
No birds are more closely associated with early spring than the swallows.