474 
RURAL HOURS. 
little ; it is no serious obstacle like rain. The pretty, white 
spangles, as they fell on our muffs, in their regular but varied 
shapes, recalled a passage in Clarke’s Travels in Russia, where he 
admires the same delicate frost-work as a novelty. It is common 
enough in this part of the world. Since Mr. Clarke’s day these 
pretty spangles have received the compliment of a serious exam- 
ination, they have actually been studied, and drawn in all their 
varieties. Like all natural objects, they are very admirable in 
their construction, and they are very beautiful also. 
February, Friday, 1st . — Stormy day. A flock of spaiTOWs 
passed the night in a balsam-fir near the house, and this morning 
we amused ourselves with watching their kver. We first saw 
them about seven o’clock, closely huddled together under the 
thickest of the branches ; then a movement began, some of them 
came to the outer branches, and shook themselves ; but they 
soon retired again to more sheltered ground, for the tree was cov- 
ered Avith hoar-frost, and sleet was falling at the time. One would 
think the little creatures must have been covered with ice them- 
selves, and half frozen. They wer© a long time making up their 
minds to get up such a stormy morning ; then they busied them- 
selves with preening and dressing their feathers ; and at length, 
when it rvas near nine o’clock, they made a general movement, 
and flew off together in the midst of the sleet and snow. 
The Chicadees and Snow-birds scarcely mind the cold at all ; 
on the contrary, you often see them active and merry in the midst 
of the Avhirling snow and wind. Probably all our winter birds 
lodge at night in the evergreens. 
Friday, 2d. — Milder ; a little snoAV. This climate of ours is a 
trying one for the architect. In a mechanical sense, the severe 
