FEBRUARY. 



" Richly embossed in silken grass 

 The Golden Dandelion shines ; 

 A Sun flower, in the early Spring, 



And bright when Summer eve declines." 



1st. During the last few days of January, and throughout the 

 present month, the following Butterflies may be looked for, especially 

 if the weather is favourable : Large Garden White or Cabbage 

 Butterfly, Small Garden White, and the Green Veined White. I 

 purposely mention only those which may be seen on the wing, 

 and this I shall do through each succeeding month. At this season 

 Butterfly life is to all appearances dormant, but when warm April 

 is here, and merrie May, the reader will be amazed at the large 

 additions to our list. 



A correspondent, writing to me under this date, says : " I have 

 lately been staying in the neighbourhood of Surbiton, and there 

 heard on several days the Robin, the Thrush, and the Blackbird, and 

 on one or two occasions I heard Skylarks. It is a great source of 

 pleasure to have the birds come into one's garden in the way in which 

 you have them come. I heartily wish that more persons would adopt 

 the course which you pursue of endeavouring to attract and protect 

 them, and providing food for them in hard times. The thus ' looking 

 after ' them has afforded much pleasure from time to time to members 

 of my family, and to myself." 



2nd. The variability of the English climate is extraordinary. 

 Well might the Americans say we do not have weather, only 

 "samples." To-day it has been snowing continuously, and, having 

 frozen last night, the ground was soon covered. At nine o'clock 

 to-night it was several inches deep, and in places where it had drifted 

 it was much deeper. This welcome fall should do much good, as 

 several Bulbs were coming along too fast, and other plants, &c., need 

 sheltering from the frost. 



