The Work Of Nature In The Months.

succeeded by red berries , the size of small cherries , of a sweet and pleasant flavour , but of very questionable wholesomeness . The effect produced by these large and "brilliant red berries amidst the evergreen leaves of the plant is rich and "beautiful in the extreme . Ascending yet another step , we come to the Yew , lately described , and now in bloom . One step higher still , ancl we are at the top , amongst the trees , where we find a few Willows coming into flower ; as , however , we have much to say of this ornamental and useful group of trees we must leave them nowand spare a little space for our insect

, friends ; of these hut very few are now astir , although on a favourable day we may find a few Brimstone Butterflies , as well as those curious little creatures , the . " Winter Moths . " The great peculiarity of this family is the formation of the female , which has its wings but little developed ; the Spring Usher has them in such a rudimentary form as to he barely discernible . Another pretty little hrown creature is the Eggar , so named from the shape of its cocoon . Other lowly and humble friends are coming from their

winter quarters;—for instance , Toads are beginning to " take their walks abroad ; trogs are getting melodious , quite justifying their title of "Dutch Nightingales "—as a question of music , we are rather inclined to the birds that more commonly hear the honoured name , hut it is , of course , a matter of taste ; we may , however , he allowed to say this much , that of the " Dutch" variety we prefer one songster to any greater number . On warm sunny days , Vipers ( the only native venomous snake ) crawl from their holes to bask in the sun . Although the bite of these creatures is sufficiently dangerous ,

especially to some constitutions , these snakes are more harmless than is commonly supposed , rarely , if ever , striking unless molested . In case of a bite , tho best remedies are hot olive oil applied to the bite , with the internal use of olive oil and ammonia , or some strong stimulant such as brandy . One singular feature of the Viper ( which may be known by the narrow neck and head , very broad at the hack ) is that it is a good swimmer . Field Crickets now open their holes , which have been closed for the winter , and tho Woodlouse , and that tiny pest , the Flea , puts in an appearance ; whilst the Spider ' s gossamer again hegins to float in the air .

Our bird acquaintances are beginning to make themselves heard , indeed the Sparrow ' s chirp has indeed hegun some time hack . ' The Rooks , too , are getting very noisy , and very busy withal about their nests , one singular feature of which is the apparently extreme insecurity that they afford to the eggs ; and yet , notwithstanding winds and storms , we rarely find any "blown out , although this fate is not so uneomuwn in the case of the newly hatched birds . The Blue Titmouse now begins to utter its

sharp creaking note , and the Yellow Hammer ' s short song is heard , as too may be the coo of the Wood Pigeon , and the sweet tone of the Goldfinch ; neither is the Woodlark silent . Towards the end of the month , the Missel Thrush sings in the hig h trees , and by night may be heard tho hoarse hoot of the Brown Owl . Such winter visitors as the Wild Goose and Swan now take departure , whilst one returns to his old . haunts to build , we mean the rare but beautiful Raven . Fit Bird to close our February Lesson , for does it not remind us of Him who " feeds the young Ravens that call upon Him "—

" The Lord of all , Himself through all diffused , Sustains , aud is the life of all that Uvea . Nature is but a name for an effect , Whose cause is God Whose designs No flaw deforms , no difficulty thwarts ; And Whose beneficence no charge exhausts . "