JANUARY. 15 



in pursuit of snails, which he destroys in abun- 

 dance, particularly in hard winters ; he delights 

 also in chrysalids and worms. Other birds now 

 quit their retreats in search of food. The nut- 

 hatch is heard, and larks congregate and fly to 

 the warm stubble for shelter. Sparrows, yellow- 

 hammers, and chaffinches crowd into farm- 

 yards, and attend the barn-door to pick their 

 scanty fare from the chaff and straw. The red- 

 breast ventures into the house. 



During the mild weather of winter, slugs are 

 in constant motion, preying on plants and green 

 wheat. Their coverings of slime prevent the 

 escape of animal heat, and hence they are ena- 

 bled to ravage when their brethren of the shell 

 are compelled to lie dormant. Earth-worms 

 likewise appear about this time ; but let not the 

 man of nice order be too precipitate in destroy- 

 ing them — they are the under-gardeners that 

 loosen the sub-soil, and have their uses in con- 

 veying away superfluous moisture, and admit- 

 ting a supply of air to the roots of plants. 



The hedge-sparrow and the thrush now begin 

 to sing. The wren also pipes her perennial lay, 

 even among the flakes of snow. The golden- 

 crested wren, from its diminutive size and so- 

 litary habits, is not often noticed; and may be 

 easily overlooked ; but it is very abundant where 

 there are plantations of spruce-trees, to which 



