FEBRUARY. 75 



green flowers, that would be scarcely noticed at any 

 other time, and which LINN^US says are " sad in 

 colour, ungrateful in scent, and blossoming in a 

 gloomy season ;" but LINN.&TJS must have been in a 

 melancholy humour when he wrote this, for in my 

 view the shining dark green leaves and bright light 

 green flowers of the plant, appear in the leafless woods 

 with a pleasing effect. Indeed Spurge Laurel looks 

 grateful to the eye upon the verge of the thicket at 

 any time. The leaves only of the Arum are now 

 pleasingly dotting the banks ; and here and there an 

 occasional fair Primrose, like one or two specks of 

 blue sky in a stormy day, embellishes the present and 

 tells hopefully for the future scene. But we must be 

 patient Spring is only awakening ! 



In the garden hosts of green leaves are bursting 

 the sombre mould, gladdening the exploring eye ; and 

 the Snowdrops, those " fair maids of February," pale 

 and pensive as the demurest nun, and white and 

 spotless as the snowflake itself, are " coming out" for 

 the season. The little sprightly Aconite (Erantliis 

 liy emails), too, is now seen flaunting in green and gold 

 beside the border : 



(t Winter Aconite, 



Its butter-cup-like flowers that shut at night, 

 With green leaf furling round its cup of gold ;* 



rather too gay to be quite in keeping with the aspect 

 of things around ; and that beautiful evergreen the 

 Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus), is displaying full joy- 

 ously its profuse clusters of white flowers. Even in 

 the garden SPRING is AWAKENING ! 



In the country the naturalist now hears dulcet 



* CLARE. 



