S22 NOTKS ON SPraNG FLOWERS^ ETC. 



used to quench her thirst with the hot blood of the slain. It was partly 



for this reason that I used to feed her with birds and mice neioly killed, so 



that she might enjoy, as in nature, the luxury of warm blood. She one day 



bade me good-bye: it was grand to see her rush upwards on her sky-cleaving 



wing. 



"0 for a falconer's voice! 



To lure that tassel gentle back again." 



First and last, I have reared seven Ravens; one, which had devilry enough 

 in him for a whole generation of Eavens, was very fond of water, and drank 

 frequently: there was a deal of strange weird mystery about this bird — 

 something beyond mere instinct. The others were never supplied with water. 

 I have had Gulls too, which never would get afloat, although they had every 

 appliance thereto j nor did I ever see them drink. Finally, they were kept 

 without water. 



Any one who may have kept a bird of prey will remember that the alvine 

 secretions have been principally a white lime-like substance; this answers to 

 the aqueous deposit of quadrupeds. From the abundance of this same sub- 

 stance I seem to argue that the juices of flesh or fish supply sufficient moisture 

 to the system without the aid of water. Is it not so? 



Henuy Seymour Daniell. 

 Torquay, Devon, June lith., 1852. 



NOTES ON SPRING FLOWERS, ETC. 



BY S. HANNANORD, ESQ., JUK. 



"Was it a dream, or have I seen 



Violets white and blue? 

 And golden flowers on mosses green, 

 Bright wet with glistening dew?" 



Sumner Jones. 



It is indeed no dream — "For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and 

 gone; the flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds 

 is come," and the first few spring flowers are peeping forth in our hedge-rows, 

 gladdening the heart of the botanist, despite the bleak winds and cold showers 

 which still linger with us, but it is 



"Eight — that the young bride of the earth 

 Be not too soon caressed!" 



The trees are already putting forth their buds; the fields are being covered 

 with young shoots of grass, amongst which 



"Daisies vermeil rimm'd and white. 



Hide in deep herbage." 



Endymion. 



The hedges are gradually clothing themselves with their bright garb, and 



