JANUARY. 35 



and a few pegs, is to be seen in every garden, and 

 under every rick ; and with a sieve, a stick, and a 

 string, drawn through a window or keyhole, he is 

 standing ready to pounce upon them. Not even 

 night, with its deepest shades, can protect them at 

 this cruel time. They are roused from their slum- 

 bers in the sides of warm stacks by a sieve or a 

 net, fixed upon a pole, being clapped before them. 

 Those which roost in hedges and copses are aroused 

 by beating the trees and bushes, at the same time 

 that they are dazzled with the glare of a torch, and, 

 flying instinctively towards the light, are knocked 

 down and secured. This is called in some counties 

 bird-moping; and in this manner are destroyed 

 great numbers of pheasants, thrushes, blackbirds, 

 besides innumerable small birds. With all these 

 enemies, and these various modes of destruction, it 

 is only surprising that the race is not extirpated. 



One of the pleasures of frosty weather will be 

 found in walking. The clear and bracing air 

 invigorates the frame; exercise gives a delightful 

 glow to the blood, and the mind is held in pleasing 

 attention to the phenomena and features of the sea- 

 son. Every sound comes to the ear with a novel 

 and surprising distinctness the low of cattle ; the 

 rattle of far-off wheels; the hollow tread of ap- 

 proaching feet ; and the merry voices, of sliders and 

 skaters, who are pursuing their healthful amusement 

 upon every sheet of unruffled ice. In towns, how- 

 ever, walking is none of the safest. From time 

 immemorial boys have used it as an especial privi- 



