128 zoologist's CALENDAR FOR APRIL. 



ably influenced by tbe weather, and will be delayed if the sea- 

 son should continue severe and turbulent. 



Among the few carnivorous quadrupeds that live wild in 

 this country, the fox (Cams Vulpes), the pole-cat (Mustela 

 Putorius), and the martin (Martes fagorum), suckle their 

 young. 



When the mild weather has set in, the sibilous note of the 

 grasshopper lark (Sylvia Locustella, Lath.) may be heard in 

 the fields. This bird simulates so closely the noise of a grass- 

 hopper as readily to deceive an unpractised ear. " Nothing 

 can be more amusing," says the delightful historian of Sel- 

 bourne, u than the whisper of this little bird, which seems to 

 be close by, though at an hundred yards distance, and when 

 close to your ear is scarce any louder than a great way off." 



Our other visitors are the white-breasted warbler ( Curruca 

 garrula), the white-throat (Curruca cinerea), the sedge-bird 

 (Curruca salicaria), the wry-neck (Yunx Torquilla), the 

 black-cap (Sylvia Atricapilld), the redstart (Sylvia Phceni- 

 curus), the whinchat (Saxicola Rubeta), the pied flycatcher 

 (Muscicapa luctuosa), the chimney-swallow (Hinmdo rus- 

 tied), the bank-swallow (Hirundo ruparia), the ring black- 

 bird (Merula torquata), the quail (Coturnix major), the 

 turtle-dove ( Columba Turtur), the stone curlew ( CEdicnemus 

 crepitans), the ruff (Tringa pugnax) ; the notes of the cuckoo 

 and nightingale may perhaps be heard, and the rare stilt-bird 

 (Himantopus melanopterus) may occasionally be seen at the 

 end of this month. They migrate hither from the South of 

 Europe, and according to Hasselquist from Egypt. 



The birds which build and hatch in April are, the golden- 

 crested wren (Regulus cristatus), which makes a hanging 

 nest; the red-breast {Sylvia Rubecula), the wood- lark (Alan- 

 da arborea), the missel thrush ( Turdus viscivorus), the chick- 

 stone (Saxicola Rubecula), the linnet ( Fringilla Canabrina), 

 the kingfisher (Alcedo Ispida), the lapwing (Vanellus cris- 

 tatus), the black cock (Tetrao Tetrix), the shear- water (Pro- 

 cellar ia Puffinus). 



Those who keep in their gardens the common tortoise, may 

 expect him to come forth from his winter's grave in the 

 warmer period of this month. He is observed to make a little 

 breathing hole as a preliminary step before emerging. He 

 buries himself about November. 



The frog (Rana temporaria), the toad (Bnfo vulgaris), 

 the natter-jack (Bufo Rubeta), and the eft (Triton palus- 

 tris), all spawn early in the month. 



