APRIL. 



103 



constitute an universal rule for the whole 

 world; because trees, shrubs, and herbs, bud, 

 leaf, and flower, and shed their leaves in every 

 country according to the different seasons. 

 Hunter's edition of Evelyn's Sylva. 



The kite now approaches farm-houses and 

 villages in search of food and materials to con- 

 struct his nest ; at all other times he carefully 

 avoids the haunts of man. In April, or early 

 in the next month, the lapwing, or peewit, 

 (vanellus cristatus) lays her eggs and sits, for 

 she makes no nest. The beech, the larch, and 

 the elm are now in full leaf. The larch also 

 exhibits its red tufts of flowers, which soon ex- 

 pand into cones, and the fir tribe show their 

 cones also. The yellow Star of Bethlehem 

 blooms in woods and by small streams. Also 

 the vernal squill among maritime rocks, and 

 the wood-sorrel on banks and in shady places. 



RURAL OCCUPATIONS. 



Feeding cattle in the yard still continues, 

 from deficiency of grass. Fields intended for 

 mowing are cleared of stones, bush-harrowed, 

 and shut up ; all ditching, hedging, and drain- 

 ing, better done last month, but if unfinished, 



