FEBRUARY. 47 



begins his note at the very entrance of the 

 month. The thrush now commences his song, 

 and tomtits are seen hanging on the eaves of 

 barns and thatched out-houses, particularly if 

 the weather be snowy and severe. Rooks now 

 revisit their breeding-trees, and arrange the 

 stations of their future nests. The harsh, loud 

 voice of the missel-thrush is now heard towards 

 the end of the month, and, if the weather be 

 mild, the hedge-sparrow renews its chirping 

 note. Turkey-cocks now strut and gobble ; 

 partridges begin to pair ; the house-pigeon has 

 young ; field-crickets open their holes ; and 

 wood- owls hoot ; gnats play about, and insects 

 swarm under sunny hedges ; the stone-curlew 

 clamours; and frogs croak. By the end of 

 February, the raven has generally laid its eggs, 

 and begun to sit. About this time the green- 

 woodpecker is heard in the woods making a 

 loud noise. The elder-tree discloses its flower- 

 buds. The catkins of the hazel become very 

 conspicuous in the hedges. Young leaves are 

 budding on the gooseberries and currants about 

 the end of the month. 



Moles go to work in throwing up their hil- 

 locks as soon as the earth is softened. Under 



