The Work Of Nature In The Months.

The timber of the Elm is extremely valuable for cart-building , for the curbs of wells and indeed for any underground purpose . Elm is employed , too , in ship-building , for keels and the jilanking beloAV water-line . Another tree , or rather group of trees , flowering at this time , is the Willow . T 0 the ordinary observer , who can remember at least half-a-dozen varieties , the statement of botanists that there are some seventy kinds indigenous to Great Britain , would no

doubt be startling , yet such is the fact . We must not stay to do more than briefly notice the Common Osier , so much employed , even in the time of the ancient Britons by themselves for the framework of their coracles , and by the Druids for their sacrificial images , and now by ourselves for eA'ery species of useful ancl ornamental basket-work the Golden WilloAV ; the " Palm WilloAv ; and that most beautiful species of all , the " Weeping "Willow : —

" The dying one will turn from the sun , The dazzling flowers , and luscious fruit ; To set his mark in thy sombre bark , And find a couch at thy moss-clad root . He is fading away like the twilight ray , His cheek is pale , and his glance is dim ; But thy drooping arms , with their pensive charms , Can yield a joy till the last for him ; And the latest words on his lips shall be—1 Oh ! lav me under the AYilloAV tree !'"

One plant , and that an unique one , now in flower , we must by no means omit to mention : — " Under the Mistletoe , peace and goodwill Mingle the spirits that long have been twain ; Leaves of the Olive branch twine with it still , While breathings of Hope 1 ' iU the loud carol strain . Hail it with joy in our yule-lighted mirth , But let it not fade with the festival sound ; Hang up love ' s Mistletoe over the earth , And let us kiss under it all the year round . "

To pass on to the insect kingdom Ave notice no Butterflies , unless a chance Brimstone or Tortoiseshell that has been Avintering , may come for a little Avhile from its hidingplace . Moths are more plentiful , numbering amongst them the Pale Brindled Beauty , the Oak Beauty , and the Drabs or Quakers The Humble Bee is UOAV OH the Aving ; Dor Beetles may also be heard as Avell as seen , Avhilst in the pools the Whirligig Beetles are in a state of great actii'ity . In these same pools may be seen those large

masses of Prog-spawn , which Avill soon become Tadpoles . The Ringed Snake comes forth freely about the middle of the mouth in search of its Frog-food . Amongst the Birds Ave notice the Wryneck , the Greenfinch , and the Chaffinch ; Avhilst many of our favourites , such as the Missel Thrush , Blackbird , Thrush , Woodlarir , ancl CI-OAV begin to build . The Wheatear aud the House and Sand Martins arrive , Avhilst the Bed wings and Fieldfares depart . As for the Snipes , some go , some stay ; the nest of the latter is a beautiful object with its four eggs disposed cross-ivise , small ends in the middle . Dear lover of the Birds was Robert Burns : —

" Sing on , sweet Thrush , upon the leafless bough ; Sing on , sweet bird , 1 listen to thy strain . " and again" 0 stay , sweet Avai-bling Woodlark , stay , JSTOI- quit for rne the trembling spray , A hapless lover courts thy lay , Thy soothing fond complaining .

> Thou tells o' never ending care ; 0 ' speechless grief , aud dark despair ; For pity ' s s-ike , sweet bird , nao roair ! Or my poor heart is broken 1 "