NATURE IN MARCH. 



II. 



THOSE of us whose means and avocations compel us to stay 

 in this fair land of ours, are beginning to forget what a hard 

 Winter really is, although we must not be too confident even 

 yet that the wintry blast will not overtake us, and we find 

 ourselves amidst snow and ice at Eastertide. But the more 

 hopeful of us are trusting that such will not be the case. 



Nothing appears to be such a drawback to the progress of 

 nidification as congenial surroundings followed by hard weather. 

 The whole of the feathered race seem to resent such climatic 

 changes very much, and all bird life appears to suffer from an 

 attack of melancholia. What a change comes over the scene, 

 however, when we have Spring-like weather at its due date 1 

 Animal life is to all intents and purposes pleased and gratified ; 

 the Bees at once commence their innocent and useful work 

 all in good faith and patient endurance. How pleasant it is, 

 when the time arrives, to stand beneath the branches listening 

 to the soft, sweet monotone, and watching the fragrant buds 

 and petals as they flutter to the ground like flakes of snow, 

 demonstrating forcibly to us that the wonderful process of 

 fertilization has been perfected. " Out to Grass " is a very 

 appropriate scene for insertion hi a " Nature in March " sketch, 

 and will illustrate to those unacquainted with country life a 

 picturesque March study. 



Even the Water Rats by the bubbling rivulet are gladsome 

 and playful, as they squat upon the mouldy mound by the 

 side, basking in the sunlight; Insects in countless myriads are 

 already buzzing on the surface of the water, and the wary 

 Trout is on the look-out. 



Near this spot we notice the Kingfisher probably the most 

 gaudily-attired of the British Birds now left to us darting with 



