66 



MARCH. 



turned up to the sun, brown and rich, the 

 whole country over. It is delightful, as you 

 pass along deep hollow lanes, or are hidden in 

 copses, to hear the tinkling gears of the horses, 

 and the clear voices of the lads calling to them. 

 It is not less pleasant to catch the busy caw 

 of the rookery, and the first meek cry of the 

 young lambs. The hares are hopping about 

 the fields, the excitement of the season over- 

 coming their habitual timidity. The bees are 

 revelling in the yellow catkins of the sallow. 

 The harmless English snake is seen again curl- 

 ed up, like a little coil of rope, with its head 

 in the centre, on sunny, green banks. The 

 woods, though yet unadorned with their leafy 

 garniture, are beautiful to look on ; they seem 

 flushed with life. Their boughs are of a clear 

 and glossy lead colour, and the tree-tops are 

 rich with the vigorous hues of brown, red, 

 and purple ; and, if you plunge into their soli- 

 tudes, there are symptoms of revivification 

 under your feet the springing mercury and 

 green blades of the blue-bells and perhaps 

 above you, the early nest of the missel-thrush, 

 perched between the boughs of a young oak, 

 to tinge your thoughts with the anticipation of 

 summer. These are mornings not to be neg- 



