The Work Of Nature In The Months.

It is but little yet , then ; that we can see of Nature s face , at least of that of her silent kingdom , but the loss is partly atoned for by this very circumstance bringing us into closer contact with one or two of her more lively subjects . Hunger , it is said will tame a lion , even without the music which " soothes the savage beast ; " at all events it will tame the little bird , favoured of all especially at this season of the year , the Robin , which will perch clay after day upon our window-sill and reward us for our bounty with his pretty song . What says Bampfylde

?" When that the fields put on their gay attire , Thou silent , sitt'st near brake or river ' s brim , Whilst the gay thrush sings loud from covert dim , But when pale Winter lights the social fire , And meads with slime are sprent , and ways with mire , Thou charm'st as with thy soft and solemn hymn From battlement , or barn , or haystack trim ; And now not seldom timest , as if for hire , Thy thrilling pipe to me , waiting to catch The pittance due to thy well-warbled song . "

We have said that the Eedbreast will return day by day to the same spot , —but we have known them come back year after year about the same time ; one in particular , in our younger days , used to perch every day through the winter on the top of a summerhouse , and there sing for a considerable time . The Wren is another bird that whistles the whole winter long , frost excepted . During this month other feathered favourites delight our ears , amongst them the Thrush , Blackbird , Missel Thrush , Sparrow ,

Chaffinch , Hedge Sparrow , and Skylark : and anything more beautiful than the melod y of this last-mentioned songster , as he mounts into the clear frosty air , hardly warmed by the bright morning sun , it is impossible to conceive ; how it makes one ' s heart almost ache that so delightful a minstrel should be such a delicious morsel as to make us gross mortals , for this latter quality , forget the former , and compass bis destruction . The Snowfleck , or Snow Bunting , is another visitor that teaches us how Nature adapts

herself to circumstances ; whilst the copse is dark with leaves and the uncovered field green , his plumage is mostly black and brown . ; but as soon as Her face , whitened with snow , would render him a conspicuous object , and therefore an easy prey to his enemies , he too changes the colour of his coat , and becomes white with the exception of his wings and tail . In the northern parts of the island the Ptarmigan changes colour in the same way , as too , by the by , does the Stoat , following the lead of his aristocratic cousin , the Ermine .

Several brrds still go in flocks , notably Larks , Starlings and Woodpigeons , as well as Chaffinches ; one curious feature about this flocking is that the different companies of birds are always of one sex . During this month the Nuthatch is first heard ; the Greater Titmouse sings ; Wagtails , both grey and white , re-appear ; and Linnets congregate ; whilst the Rooks resort to their nesting trees . Towards the end of the month , the Woodlark ' s notes are heard again ; the Yellow Wagtail comes back ; and Jackdaws begin to cluster round their old haunts in the ancient Church Towersand in the early

; dusk a few Bats may again be seen . Should we get a few sunny days , the Bees will come forth to welcome the approach of spring ; Gnats will play about ; Spiders will begin to spread abroad their webs ; and those perpetual tormentors , the House Flies , will shake off their , to us quite as much as to them , blissful repose . Of the more beautiful insects—the Butterflies , we shall see nonesave perhaps one or two Brimstones but the Beetlesboth land and water ,

, ; , will be bestirring themselves 'ere January has gone . We usually can hardly find space enough to enumerate all our friends , the Flowers ; but just now we can hardly find enough to make a posy ; so what few there are are very precious to us as being trulv "friends in need . " —

Tis dark and dreary winter time , Tho snow is on the ground ; No roses trail , no woodbines climb , No poppies flaunt around ,