XIV. INTRODUCTION. 



juid the yew, they make a winter garden of great 

 beauty, which is much enjoyed in tlie intervals of 

 fine weather, particularly when a mild season 

 leaves us a few stocks, marigolds, and other flowers. 

 But perhaps the ivy on the trunks of the elms and 

 other large trees, and on old walls and ruined 

 abbeys, and the bright orange berries of the 7ne- 

 spilus 'pyracanthus trained against our houses, 

 are among the most ornamental effects of nature 

 and art combined at this time of the year. We 

 may add to these, the Chinese and dark Indian 

 roses which, in the early part of the Brumal 

 period, still blow and ornament our parterre and 

 forecourts, and are some times trained against 

 walls. 



Pheasants, partridges, woodcocks, snipes, field- 

 fares, and in severe weather the numerous spe- 

 sies of water fowl are now in season. The rooks 

 and daws go out in large flights to feed, and re- 

 turn at night to the woods. Seagulls come in 

 large flights to the inland part of the country, 

 rare foreign birds also appear. In the dark and 

 still weather cocks frequently crow all night 

 and day. The redbreast and the wren sing all 

 this season ; and pyes and jays are numerous. 

 The principal flowers of this season are the sweet 

 coltsfoot or shepherd of Madonna, tussilago fra- 

 g7-ans, and the Christmas rose or blackrooted 

 hellebore hellehoriis niger, the flower of which 



