FEBRUARY. 65 



be mild, the hedge-sparrow renews its chirping 

 note. Turkey-cocks now strut and gobble ; par- 

 tridges 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 dis- 

 closes 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. 



What are called Dissected Leaves, i. e. leaves of 

 which the cuticle and cellular membranes have been 

 decomposed by the active influence of wintry rains, 

 winds and frosts, leaving only a curious network 

 of the veiny fibres, are, about this season, found 

 blowing about in our path, particularly in woods, 

 and strongly attract the attention of young people, 

 who frequently attempt imitations of them by the 

 application of vinegar or other acids to leaves yet 

 undecomposed. 



Moles go to work in throwing up their hillocks 

 as soon as the earth is softened. Under some of the 

 largest, a little below the surface of the earth, they 

 make their nests of moss, in which four or five 

 young are found at a time. These animals live on 

 worms, insects, and .the roots of plants. They do 

 much mischief in gardens, by loosening and devour- 

 6* 



