WILD LIFE: 



FURRED AND FEATHERED. 



A LTHOUGH the rude winds of March may cause the 

 -ii- feebler wayfarers, whose blood runs slowly, to pu 

 plaid or cloak more closely about their sensitive frames, 

 they are propitious to the observer of life out of doors, 

 whether this be in the form of biped or quadruped. There 

 is a clearness of atmosphere which brings distant objects 

 nearer, and makes our observations more exact ; besides 

 which the great cloud masses get broken up and driven, in 

 all their varied tones of grey and pearly white, swiftly over 

 hill and dale, bringing about ever-varying effects of light 

 and shade. These keep a lover of nature in that pleasant 

 expectant attitude of mind that dispels all mental vapours, 

 and promotes a healthful light-hearted vigour of mind and 

 body which is eminently suited to the "going out for to 

 see " what may be stirring under the changeful skies. 



Rough blasts cause hawks, jackdaws, and owls to seek a 

 shelter ; and this varies with different localities. In Surrey, 

 for instance, they find it to perfection in old workings that 

 have been abandoned, in the chalk hills where lime was 

 once burned ; cracks and rents in these lonely corners suit 

 the birds exactly. And the wild gusts cause the rooks to 



