THE PROGRESS OF THE SEASONS. 323 



large numbers of persons securely. The thermometer 

 indicated only —7° when this occurred, but the cold was 

 of some days' continuance, and favoured by a perfect 

 calm. This harbour rarely freezes to impede navigation, 

 as do those further to the eastward. 



The roseate hue cast over the snow-covered surface of 

 the country by the sun's rays on a fine March afternoon 

 in the fine weather succeeding a storm imparts a beau- 

 tiful effect to the wintry landscape ; in a steady winter 

 this is the most busy time for sleds, snow-shoes, and the 

 youthful sports of " trabogining " and coasting down the 

 ice-clad hillocks and drifts of snow by the roadside. 



As has been before observed, St. Patrick's Day (March 

 1 7) is looked upon generally as indicating the breaking- 

 up of the winter at Halifax, Nova Scotia, when the wild 

 geese pass over in large flights ; southerly weather, with 

 soft rains and fogs, fast dissolving the snow, and rotting 

 the ice on the lakes, which lingers a few days longer in 

 dark, discoloured, and honeycombed patches, and finally 

 sinks below the surface. 



April 1. Cold N.E. wind, with rain ; large fields of 

 ice drifting past the entrance of the harbour. 



2 — 10. Fine, but with cold easterly winds. Common 

 crow (C. Americanus) mated and building in tall spruces. 

 Also ravens (C. corax) in tops of lofty pines and rocky 

 precipices. Fox-coloured sparrow (F. iliaca) arrives. 

 Trout take the fly in open water found in runs between 

 lakes. 



15. Wind veers to the westward after rain, with 

 fine spring weather. Mayflowers (Epigsea repens) in 

 flower abundantly ; occasional blossoms have been picked 



Y 2 



