CONTENTS. XI 



minds — Arrival of Fieldfares, and Redwings — Occa- 

 sional fine days — First appearance of Winter — Frost and 

 Snow — Amusements in Snow — Fire-side employments 

 in farm-houses and cottages — Biid-catching — Singing 

 Birds in cages, selfishness of the practice — November, 

 its name — Moles retire to their nests — Salmon ascend 

 the rivers — Attention requisite for Bees and Pigeons — 

 Various animals seek their winter retreats — Birds'-nests 

 occupied by mice — Rural Occupations — Angling — Mi- 

 gration of Birds — Calendar of Garden Flowers . 283 

 December. Lays of the Seasons, No. 4, Winter — De- 

 scription of winter by Gawain Douglas — Desolate aspect 

 of Nature — Disappearance of many varieties of living 

 things — Men resort to towns and to their houses — Fa- 

 milies collected — The Author and his literary labours — 

 Beauty of Winter — Moonlight and starry skies, they 

 inspire solemn feelings and ideas — Concluding remarks 

 — Daily Wayfarers — December, its name — Evergreens 

 — Winter Fruit — Rural Occupations — Angling — Ca- 

 lendar of Garden Flowers — Migration of Birds — All 

 Seasons Welcome .... 297 



