36 A YEAR WITH NATURE. 



many berries and few are now to be seen. What there are the 

 Fieldfare relishes, but his companion the Redwing is a farmer's 

 friend, feeding generally on Caterpillars and the larvae of 

 Beetles. The illustration on page 34 of a Ewe with triplets, 

 photographed an hour after birth, is a striking example of how 

 strong these animals are so soon as they are ushered into the 

 world. 



The power of the sun is increasing, but the keen wind is 

 still piercing unless the rambler keeps on the move. Chaffinches 

 are lively enough now, and longing for the time to commence 

 their beautiful moss and lichen homesteads ; and the voracious 

 Greenfinch is devouring the berries of the Mountain Ash 

 xvhich grows by the wayside. The woodman is at work " fell- 

 ing and stacking"; the roadman is " ditching"; industrious 

 individuals both of them; old and getting feeble, but two of 

 Britain's truest sons. The Plovers are breaking up their flocks, 

 and the cheery Hedge Sparrow why call it " Sparrow" when 

 such a delicate little songster? flits along the sunlit coppice. 

 The Squirrel may hereabouts be seen, and a Field Mouse 

 peeps out now and again to see whether it is advisable for 

 him to sleep a little longer or not. How lovely the various 

 Mosses look in February ; how picturesque does the Robin appear 

 in his coat of red, as he alights on the moss-grown trunk. 



In yonder tall trees one or two Magpies are disporting them- 

 selves, and a few Jays dart across in front of us. The Bull- 

 finch does not escape attention, and what exquisite plumage 

 he is in! His mate is hard by somewhere, as they pair for 

 life. The rough old Starling is at the top of a Beech very 

 happy and contented, sunning himself and chattering the while. 



Climbing the walls of the thatched cottage the beautiful yellow 

 Jessamine may now be seen in all its beauty, and in the neigh- 

 bouring orchard a Goldfinch treats us to a few welcome notes. 

 He has his eye on that old Apple tree as a suitable spot to 

 rear his fledglings this Summer perchance, although a fluty 

 Blackbird he of the golden dagger may have the same object 

 in view ; those glistening eyes tell tales. On that old stump in 

 the distance we have had the good fortune to observe a Buzzard 

 alight, watched its majestic flight, or the short work it makes 

 of the tasty rodent. 



