THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



every variety of both eggs and birds, many 

 of which have never before been figured in 

 any work. 



P. T. D., Edgbaston. — We took a figure of 

 your Chaffinch's egg. Your holly is re- 

 ferred to on another page. 



E. G., Huddersfield. — " Marrin's Calender " 

 is the best book on the subject you name, 

 but the " Naturalists' Almanack" for 1868 ! 

 will furnish you with work for the coming j 

 year at any rate. We can send it for 3^d. 



NOTES, CAPTURES, &C. 



Snow Bunting at Huddersfield. — To- j 

 day (Jan. 15.) I had a pair of Snow Buntings | 

 brought in which had been killed near here. I 

 There was a flock and several others were | 

 obtained. The two brought to me were in 

 the dark plumage. — James Varley, Almond- 

 bury Bank', Huddersfield. 



We have many Snow Buntings here just 

 now, but very few with much white about 

 them, being mostly first year old birds. — 

 (Rev.) J. Johnson, Denby, nr. Huddersfield. 



H. Abruptaria. — This insect is I believe 

 rather rare about here, the one I sent to you 

 to name being the only one I have seen. It 

 was found on some palings at Birchfield, 

 near Birmingham, about the end of May or 

 beginning of June, 1879, I have not heard of 

 any others being taken in this neighbourhood. 

 — P. T. Deakin. Edgbaston. 

 [You should begin to look for this insect to- 

 wards the end of April, in woods and gardens 

 near to where lilac grows, on which plant the 

 larva feeds, in June and July. — Eds.] 



" Birds and Eggs " — Mr. Henry Cockayne, 

 of Sheffield, says " I am much pleased with 

 your ' Birds and Eggs ' — letter-press and 

 plants, especially the Eggs. The text being 

 put under proper headings, renders it very 

 useful for reference." Mr. P. T. Deakin. of 

 FMgbaston, says "I am pleased with your 

 book on 'Birds and Eggs' and think lean 

 get another subscriber or two." 



THE FOUR SEASONS: 



A Story from the Book of Nature. 

 By Lucy Fern. 



Chap. VIII. 



AT THE NEW POREST. 



'•Yes sir, the train will be here in five 



minutes, and you will arrive at Brockenhurst 



about twelve o'clock." The Kensington 

 porter had only just spoken when the bell 



rung, and the train appeared in sight. Our 



little party saw to their luggage, took their 



seats, and after steaming through a delightful 



country arrived at the little station of Brock- 



enhurst, in the New Forest. Their first 



thoughts, of course, were for " quarters," 



which they soon found, with a talkative little 



lady, who delighted in the name of Mks. 



Rooks. 



"Before I do anything else" said John, 

 '• I shall perform a little chemical operation 

 with some soap and water." When all three 

 had undergone the same chemical change, 

 Mks. Summer went out to find something to 

 refresh them inwardly. She did not care to 

 send Mrs. Rooks to " buy in " for her, for 

 she had tastes and ideas of her own. The 

 day was excessively hot, and during the 

 Summer she cared little for flesh meat, she 

 did not believe there was that strength and 

 nutriment concealed in a beef steak and a 

 glass of beer that people generally supposed 

 there to be, but preferred fruits and farina- 

 cious food. At anytime she ate little Hesh 

 meat, and never swine's flesh ; eggs and milk- 

 formed the principal part of her animal food, 

 and it was a noteworthy fact that she was 

 seldom ailing, but enjoyed a healthy tffe. 



Dinner being over, no time must be lost, 

 but the three at once strolled out to see what 

 surrounded their new home. 



" You had better bring the nets and boxes," 

 said Mrs. Summer, " for if we go without, we 

 shall be certain to see something we want." 

 John slung the satchel over his shoulder, 

 and they sauntered up the road which led 

 through the forest. They had jnot gone far, 



