Bird Life in January. 



The first day of the year has come, looming large upon 

 the horizon of all lovers of the outdoor life. As we 

 sally forth, with the year some eight or nine hours 

 old, breathing a fresh atmosphere born of hope and 

 expectancy, yesterday seems far away. For the turn 

 of the tide has come at last and matters in the great 

 world of nature are now upon the up-grade. Lengthen- 

 ing days may bring strengthening cold, for winter has 

 yet to show his hand, but the hazel-catkins, soon to 

 dangle loosely, shaking out dusty pollen, give promise 

 that though he press matters with a rough hand, he 

 shall finally be routed all along the line. The few 

 short months when it is indeed good to be alive are all 

 before us. Hardly is that January to be esteemed 

 which brings too many foretastes, gives too evident 

 hints of the glad time, for experience tells that the 

 balance is apt to be adjusted later with untimely cold ; 

 far better for it to produce those frosts, not too severe, 

 which act favourably upon the condition of the land 

 as upon the public health. The month is never 

 altogether without its signs and portents in the shape 

 of pushful green shoots and swelling buds, but, when 



17 2 



