MARCH. 81 



the,) again pays its annual visit, leaving England in 

 September. The gannets, or Soland geese, resort 

 in March to the Hebrides and other rocky islands 

 of North Britain, to make their nests and lay their 

 eggs. In March and April, before pairing-time, 

 starlings may be seen in the fields, in large dense 

 flocks, circling about in their remarkable wheeling 

 kind of flight ; and, ever and anon, settling upon 

 some tree, which they cover to blackness, and 

 making a cheerful warbling chorus, much in the 

 same manner as the red-winged thrushes before 

 they take their departure for the north. In this 

 month black ants are observed; trouts begin to 

 rise ; and blood-worms appear in the water. The 

 clay hair-worm is found at the bottom of drains 

 and ditches, and the water-flea may be seen gliding 

 about on the surface of sheltered pools. Black 

 beetles may now be observed flying about in the 

 evening. Roach and dace float near the surface of 

 the water, and sport about in pursuit of insects. 

 Peas appear above ground ; the sea-kale (crambe 

 maritima) now begins to sprout. The male blos- 

 soms of the yew-tree expand and discharge their 

 farina. Besides the catkins of the hazel and the 

 sallow, the alder-trees are now covered with a kind 

 of black bunches, which are male and female 

 flowers. The leaves of honeysuckles are nearly 

 expanded, violets white and blue appear, and daf- 

 fodils, 



Which come before the swallow dares, and take 

 The winds of March with beauty. 



