NOVEMBER. 293 



they may ; for my part, while I am myself 

 sensible of the charms of freedom, and of the 

 delights of the summer fields, I shall continue 

 to prefer the " wood notes wild" of liberty to a 

 captive's wail. 



The Anglo-Saxons termed this month, says 

 Verstegan, wind-monath ; to wit, wind-month, 

 whereby we may see that our ancestors were 

 made acquainted with blustering Boreas; and 

 it was the ancient custom for shipmen then to 

 shroud themselves at home, and to give over 

 seafaring (notwithstanding the littleness of their 

 used voyages) until blustering March had bidden 

 them well to fare. They likewise, says Dr. 

 Sayers, called it blot-monath, or blood-month, on 

 account of the abundance of cattle killed for 

 the winter store or for sacrifices. 



Moles now make their nests where they lodge 

 during winter, and which are ready to deposit 

 their young in, the following spring. Salmon 

 now begin to ascend the rivers to spawn. Bees 

 require to be removed under shelter, and their 

 hives to be covered with their winter coat ; 

 pigeons also require feeding. 



Many wile 1 creatures now retire to their win- 

 ter retreats. The frog sinks to the bottom of 

 ponds and ditches, and buries itself in the mud. 



