18 February. 
February takes its name from Februa, which signi¬ 
fies to expiate, or purify, from the fact that the religious 
expiation of the ancient Romans took place at the be¬ 
ginning of this month. Our Saxon ancestors gave it 
the name of Sprotit-kale , from the fact of the sprouting 
of cabbage at this ungenial season. The name of Sol- 
monat was afterwards bestowed on it, in consequence 
of the return of the luminary of day from the low 
course in the heavens, which for some time he had 
been taking. The usual emblematical representation 
of February is a man in a sky-coloured dress, bearing 
in his hand the astronomical sign, Pisces. 
“ February fill-dyke” was a name formerly given to 
this month by our forefathers ; for, when the snow 
melted, the rivers overflowed, the dykes brimmed over, 
and long leagues of land were under water, which are 
now to be found drained, owing to improved agricul¬ 
ture. In this month no striking change has passed 
over the fields ; few flowers are to be noticed beyond 
those to be seen in the previous month. The verdure 
seems to belong more to the past than the present 
year ; yet, the primrose, the violet, the woodruff, the 
small white potentilla (often mistaken for wild straw¬ 
berry), are to be met with in warm, or sheltered places ; 
and the simple daisy may be found embedded among 
the green grass in the fields. 
