2/2 



A YEAR WITH NATURE. 



we believe does not kill birds so much as hunger. Even if 

 the lake be frozen the various Water Fowl do not appear to 

 feel the cold; they lazily squat on the ice, then waddle off 

 into the water where the ice is kept clear for them. 



The common Shield Fern is beautiful in December, the run 

 of the Hare is easily discernible, and we may come across a 

 Hedgehog rolled up in a ditch like a ball of leaves. The Hart's 

 Tongue Fern too is out nicely now, and a few Blackberries are 



A FLIGHT OF WlLD DUCKS. 



still to be ^seen, but the various berries are disappearing rapidly. 

 The Winter visitors from Norway make sad havoc amongst the 

 Mountain Ash berries. 



The Mole has to go deeper in the ground now, and the 

 Owls get as far as they can into the hollow trees. Watching 

 the sprightly Wagtails by the side of some stream is very 

 interesting just now, and the same remark applies to the various 

 Buntings in the farmyard. They are very partial to a grain 

 diet during the Winter. 



