38 FEBRUARY. 



February is so called from the Roman custom 

 of burning expiatory sacrifices, Februalia; the 

 Saxons called it Sprout-kele, because the kale, 

 or cabbage began to sprout ; and also Sol-mo- 

 nath, or pancake-month, because cakes were 

 offered to the sun. 



Various signs of returning spring occur at 

 different times in February. The wood-lark, 

 one of our earliest and sweetest songsters, often 

 begins his note at the very entrance of the 

 month. The thrush now commences his song, 

 and tomtits are seen hanging on the eaves of 

 barns and thatched out-houses, particularly if 

 the weather be snowy and severe. Rooks now 

 revisit their breeding-trees, and arrange the 

 stations of their future nests. The harsh, loud 

 voice of the missel-thrush is now heard towards 

 the end of the month, and, if the weather be 

 mild, the hedge-sparrow renews its chirping 

 note. Turkey-cocks now strut and gobble ; 

 partridges begin to pair ; the house-pigeon has 

 young ; field-crickets open their holes ; and 

 wood-owls hoot ; gnats play about, and insects 

 swarm under sunny hedges ; the stone-curlew 

 clamours ; and frogs croak. By the end of Fe- 

 bruary, the raven has generally laid its eggs, 

 and begun to sit. About this time the green- 

 woodpecker is heard in the woods making a 

 loud noise. The elder-tree discloses its flower- 



