2 A BIRD CALENDAR 



the temperature often falls sufficiently to 

 allow of the formation of thin sheets of ice. 

 Towards, dawn mists collect which are not 

 dispersed tintil the sun has shone upon them 

 for several- hours. The vultures await the 

 dissipation of these vapours before they ascend 

 to the upper air, there to soar on outstretched 

 wings and scan the earth for food. 



On New Year's Day the wheat, the barley, 

 the gram, and the other Spring crops are well 

 above the ground, and, ere January has given 

 place to February, the emerald shoots of the 

 corn attain a height of fully sixteen inches. 

 On these the geese levy toll. 



Light showers usually fall in January. 

 These are very welcome to the agriculturalist 

 because they impart vigour to the young crops. 

 In the seasons when the earth is not blessed 

 with the refreshing winter rain men and oxen 

 are kept busy irrigating the' fields. The cut- 

 ting and the pressing of the sugar-cane employ 

 thousands of husbandmen and their cattle. 

 In almost every village little sugar-cane presses 

 are being worked by oxen from sunrise to 

 sunset. At night-time the country-side is 

 illumined by the flames of the megas burned 

 by the rustic sugar-boilers. 



