MARCH. 



233 



The mellow note of the thrush, singing perched 

 on the naked bough of some lofty tree, and the coo- 

 ing of the ring dove in the woods, are heard from 

 the beginning of March. The rooks also are now 

 in motion, building and repairing their nests; and it 

 is highly amusing to observe the tricks and artifices 

 of this thievish tribe; some to defend, and others to 

 plunder, the materials of their new habitations. These 

 birds are- accused of doing much injury to the farmer, 

 by plucking tip the young corn, and other springing 

 vegetables; but some are of opinion that this mis- 

 chief is fully repaired by their diligence in devouring 

 the grubs of various insects, which, if suffered to 

 come to maturity, would occasion much greater da- 

 mage. For this purpose, they are frequently seen 

 following the plough, or settling in flocks on newly 

 turned up lands. 



In the month of March, those birds which took 

 refuge in our temperate climate from the rigour of 

 the northern winters, begin to leave us, and return 

 to the countries where they were bred. The red- 

 wing, fieldfare, and woodcock, are of this kind, and 

 retire to spend their summer in, Norway, Sweden, 

 and other parts of the north of Europe. Frogs, 

 which, during winter, lie in a topid state at the bot- 

 tom of ponds or ditches, now, enlivened by the 

 warmth of spring, rise in vast numbers to the surface 

 of the water, and make themselves heard to a stir- 

 prising distance. by their croakings. Those small, 

 but beautiful fish, called smelts, or sparlings, proceed 

 op the rivers in this month in order to spawn; bat 



