IN FEBRUARY. 225 



note at the very entrance of the month. Not long 

 after, rooks begin to pair, and geese to lay. The 

 thrush and chaffinch then add to the early music of 

 the groves. Moles go to work in throwing up their 

 hillocks as soon as the earth is softened. Under 

 some of the largest, a little below the surface of the 

 earth, they make their nests of moss, in which four 

 r five young are found at a time. These animals 

 live on worms, insects, an^l the roots of plants. They 

 do much mischief in gardens, by loosening and de- 

 vouring flower-roots; but in the fields they do no 

 other damage than rendering the surface of the 

 ground unequal by their hillocks, which obstruct the 

 scythe in mowing. They are said, also, to pierce 

 the sides of dams and canals, and let out the water; 

 but this can only be an accidental occurrence, attend- 

 ed with their own destruction. 



Many plants emerge from under ground in Fe- 

 bruary, but few flowers yet adorn the fields or gar- 

 dens. Snow-drops, in general, are fully opened from 

 the beginning of the month, often peeping from the 

 midst of the snow. 



" Already now the snow-drop dares appear, 

 The first pale blossom of the unripen'd year ; 

 As Flora's breath, by some transforming power, 

 Had chang'd an isicle to a flower ; 

 Its name and hue the scentless plant retains, 

 And winter lingers in its icy veins." 



The aider-tree discloses its flower buds; the cat- 

 kins of the hazel become very conspicuous in the 



