34 
RURAL HOURS. 
■winter among oui' hills, as we have never yet observed them in 
cold weather. It is not a very common bird here, but may pos- 
sibly be found in the woods by those who look for it through the 
year. We were amused by watching our little visitor this morn- 
ing ; he never touched the spray, always alighting on the tmnk, 
or on a principal limb, running nimbly up some distance, and 
then flying off to another in ceaseless movement, without a mo- 
ment’s intemission. 'Jhis bird has other peculiar habits. He 
sleeps with his head downAvards, and he is said to have one qual- 
ity rare among his race ; he is a curious little rogue, and seems 
desirous of observing your own odd Avays, Avhile you are Avatch- 
ing his ; then, he is a remarkably good husband, taking a vast 
deal of pains to feed and amuse his Avife, and listening to all her 
remarks and obserA’ations in the most meritorious manner. For 
several days Ave have observed this nut-hatch nmning oA^er the 
same trees, probably in search of some particular insect, or eggs, 
just now in season for them. 
Sundarj, 9th . — Six o’clock, P. M. — The lake has been opening 
all day. The ice began to break up early in the morning ; be- 
tAveen the time of going to church and returning, Ave found great 
changes ; and now, so far as the eye can reach, the blue waters 
are once more quite free. The day has been cool ; wind from 
the north-Avest. 
Mondaij, \0th . — Lovely weather; air warm and soft. The 
open lake very beautiful. A decided green tinge rising upon 
the earth ; the Avheat-fields are ahvays the first to show the 
pleasant change as they revive after the severe Avinter frosts; 
then the grass begins to color in the orchards, about the roots of 
the apple-trees, and patches brighten in sunny sheltered spots, 
