PREFACE. 



HE very favourable reception accorded both by 

 Press and Public to the " Circle of the Year," 

 has induced me to prepare a second volume, 

 similar in design, but dealing with different branches 

 of the same subject. As the former was founded on 

 the first series of a popular French work, "Les 

 Saisons," by M. Hoefer, so the present has been 

 suggested by the second series ; but in availing myself 

 of it, I have omitted much, I have revised more, and 

 at various parts my additions have been considerable. 

 And here, as in my former effort, I have written from 

 a popular rather than a scientific point of view. It has 



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