JANUARY. 9 



The Skylark was soaring and singing deliciously this morning, 

 and the Rooks were up quite early. 



27th. I am informed, although I cannot yet confirm it, that the 

 Song Thrush has been singing some little time now. 



I was interested this morning watching a Great Tit feeding on a 

 lump of suet, tied by a piece of string to a tree in my garden. How 

 he hangs and clings, and picks and pecks, and then off like a dart at 

 the least interruption; I cannot make out from whence he comes or 

 whither he goes. As soon as the suet or bone is hung up, he is there; 

 when he has had his fill he is off, but so long as the dainty morsel 

 lasts he will still visit me. 



28th. An inch or so of snow fell during last night. The House 

 Sparrows wailing for their meal when I got down this morning. The 

 Tit visited me as usual. The Rooks were clamouring very early this 

 morning, but the Robin and Skylark have been silent all day- 



30th. Very cold cutting wind yesterday and to-day, and birds all 

 silent. Blue Tit with me in the garden as usual. The Starlings have 

 not chattered of late. The Chaffing is " pinking." 



31th. "Chill airs and wintry winds! My ear 



Has grown familiar with your song; 

 I hear it in the opening year - 

 I listen, and it cheers me long." 



LONGFELLOW. 



To close my notes for January I may add a few lines as to the 

 cultivation of a hobby. My advice to a young man is to take up some 

 pure and sensible hobby ; it is one of the strongest safeguards against 

 all dangers, and cannot be kept too much to the fore. 



To all those who wish to indulge in a hobby, to those who are of 

 a morose and uninteresting temperament, I would suggest the study 

 of Natural History. One cannot realize the fascination of such 

 a study until it is practically put to the test, and the more it is 

 pursued the more interesting it becomes, and the more wonderful 

 are the laws of Nature displayed. To gain anything like a clear and 

 useful knowledge of Natural History, the mind must be fostered so 

 soon as it arrives at the understanding stage, and parents should give 

 their growing children every encouragement. I am, however, 

 addressing these lines more particularly to young men, and intend to 

 shew how delightful and fascinating is the pursuit of a sensible 



