BAMBLIXG KEFLEOTIONS AMIDST SNOW AND FROST. O'J 



Then there were our ponds, and large sheets of water, — all rich in solid 

 blocks of crystal ; huge masses of which might be seen quietly floating, 

 or lying about, edgeways, on their shining surfaces. The grass, too, — how 

 beautiful it looked, bespangled with its countless myriads of frozen dew- 

 drops ! And when the sun darted his slant beam upon them, how did their 

 varied reflections express all the lovely colours of the rainbow ! I seemed, 

 whilst treading the green floor, to be pacing on a pavement studded with 

 brilliants. 



But I must now descend from the lofty regions of poetry to common-place 

 prose, and say a few (sad) words about the dear little birds whom, only a 

 short month since, I left so sweetly singing. The snow and frost of January 

 and February, so deep and so severe, have caused them to die by the thou- 

 sand. February came in with snow, in some places from five to ten feet 

 deep, — covering, not only the surface of the fields, but also hedges and 

 the low brushwood. Poor Skylarks ! How they sought the high-road to see 

 if, peradventure a few grains of corn, dropped by some passing horse, 

 might fall in their way ! Hardly an hour's life seemed to linger in their 

 little bodies. 'Twas a harrowing sight truly. Whole armies of felts, red- 

 wings, and other of the larger winter visitors, seemed also hard put to it to 

 keep themselves alive. Some of the feathered tribes sought refuge in our 

 London streets, — more particularly the Chaffinch, Hedge-Sparrow, and that 

 dear little fellow, the Blue Titmouse, fParui Ccertileus.J This last might be 

 seen very actively busy in examining the black, smoke-dried branches of the 

 trees in our west-end squares. I remarked him thus occupied last year. As 

 for the Robins and Wrens, poor little fellows ! — driven to their shifts, and 

 pursued by their enemy, man, they have suffered most severely. 



One would imagine that sights of distress, such as those I have faintly 

 described, would draw forth the sympathy of feeling (if not the tear of pity) 

 from all beholders. So far is this from being the fact, that the murderous 

 gun has heen unceasingly ed worli.; scattering the limbs and feathers of the 

 smaller birds in every direction. This is called " capital fun." Even our 

 tradespeople joined the ranks, to participate in the "pleasure" of this butch- 

 ery. Their business, meantime, was quite neglected ! I record it to their 

 shame. As for Blackbirds,* Thrushes, and Skylarks, the slaughter of these 

 has been fearfully great ; all murdered for " the pleasure of the thing." A 

 near neighbour of mine, — quite old enough to know better, has slain, with 

 his hollow tube, almost all the feathered pets that frequented my garden ; 

 amongst them, my most choice, tame Robin, of whom I have published so 

 many interesting little anecdotes. He flew, when wounded, to the favourite 



• I am delighted to see how your worthy correspondents, Stephen Stone, John Mc. Intosh, and others, 

 continue to expose the absurd prejudices of our market-gardeners and those who persist in destroying 

 Blackbirds, Thrushes, &c., which are the very best friends they could have. The harmless mole, too, (Talpa 

 vulgaris,) how short-sighted is the policy that deprives him of life '. His value cannot be overrated. 



