tinder." The silky down of the seed-heads is used in the Highlands for stuffing pillows. The presence of the plant has been said to indicate the presence of coal. It is, no doubt, plentiful in the coal districts, but so it is elsewhere, especially in the stiff clays.

FEBRUARY 6TH.

THE GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN.-(Motacilla Regulus.)

THE present month offers a great advantage for the study of this beautiful bird; as soon as the leaf-buds burst it will be lost to view. It is the smallest of all our birds; the actual length, exclusive of the feathers, being barely an inch, and its weight about 80 grains. The bird may be readily met with by taking a little quiet observation of the pines, larches, or firs, on which it will be seen actively engaged in picking the aphides and insect larvæ from the fir-cones, or creeping around and along the underside of the branches, diligently peeping with its clear, bright eyes into every crevice, and occasionally uttering a shrill "cheep, cheep." The movements of this bird are most interesting, being distinguished by the most untiring activity-flitting to and fro from tree to tree like a winged thought. If the sun is shining and the gnats are playing under the branches, it darts through their ranks and returns to the tree with astonishing rapidity.

The male bird is very handsomely attired in a suit of olive green, with a splendid crest of bright, silky, golden feathers, contrasted by a black band on either side; this band the bird erects at pleasure, and thus often obscures its coronet. Its spring song has now commenced; and although consisting only of a few notes, it is a pleasant, soft, low warble. The construction of the nest is most curious-composed of wool and moss, bound together by the web of the spider, and warmly lined with feathers. The bird, in order to avoid some of its enemies, manufactures curiously-twisted threads, by which it suspends its nest to some convenient branch, where the foliage or another branch may conceal it, so that if it occasionally sways into view it appears like loose moss or leaves.

The eggs are very minute, not larger than peas, of pinkish white, and spotted; the nest often contains twelve eggs. The calls of so numerous a family require the most untiring industry. The activity of the bird is most surprising-the visits of the hen to the nest with food have been carefully noted, and found to average 36 per hour for 16 hours each day—that is, between five and six hundred supplies of food per day.

FEBRUARY 7TH.

THE KINGFISHER.-(Alcedo ispida.)

A WALK by the side of one of our many rivulets with wooded banks will often reveal to the observer reflections of the gorgeous plumage of the Kingfisher as it rapidly darts up the stream; for, though a shy bird, it is by no means uncommon. It rarely leaves the waterside, occasionally flitting with rapid undulating flight under the overhanging branches; or, perched on some favourable vantage point, it intently watches the rippling waters, rapidly darting on fish or water insect as it comes into view; and if not disturbed, again returning to its station. In winter it usually leaves the inland streams, and migrates to the dykes near the seacoast.

The Kingfisher, though so brilliantly dressed, appears unshapely and ill-proportioned, the body being short and squat, and the bill excessively large; it is, however, admirably adapted to its mode of life. In brilliancy of plumage none of our birds can compete with it, robed as it is in the brightest tints of azure, blue, green, orange, and red, disclosing, as the wings open in the sunbeams, a bright gleam of rainbow tints.

The Halcyon of the ancients, of which so many marvellous tales have been told, is believed to have been the Kingfisher of the moderns. It was supposed that the birds kept the waters calm, while they built and sat on their nests on the surface of the sea. Hence "Halcyon" meant happy or tranquil.

In rearing the young the parent bird was represented as brooding for seven days over its poetical floating cradle, which was believed to possess valuable medical properties. In more modern times the bird, both living and dead, has been regarded as possessing wonderful powers.

The editor of "Bewick's British Birds" states that "the Kingfisher has been observed near the edge of a rivulet exposing the vivid colours of its breast to the full rays of the sun, and fluttering with expanded wings over the smooth surface of the water; and that the fish, attracted by the brightness and splendour of the appearance, were thus detained, whilst the wily bird darted down upon them with unerring aim."

The dried body of the bird used formerly to be placed with woollen clothing, as a protection from moth. A curious superstition long prevailed, and possibly may still prevail in secluded hamlets, that a Kingfisher, suspended by a thread within doors, accurately distinguished the quarter from whence the wind blew, by pointing with its bill. This belief was known to Shakspeare, who puts into the mouth of Kent, in his upbraidings of timeservers, the words—

"And turn their halcyon beaks

With every gale and vary of their masters,
As knowing nought, like dogs, but following."

To the bird was also ascribed the power of enriching its possessor, of preserving peace and harmony in families, and of imparting to the lady who wore its feathers additional grace and loveliness. Hence, possibly, the fashion of ladies using the bird as an ornament.

FEBRUARY 8TH.

THE DANDELION.-(Leontodon Taraxacum.)

"Yet a lapse of weeks,

Buds will burst their edges,

Strip their wool coats, glue coats streaks

In the woods and hedges.”—CHRISTINA ROSSETTI.

THE Dandelion is "the sunflower of the spring."

The name

is said to be a transformation from the French of "dent de lion." Its gay and brilliant stars open to the first beams of February ; and though it may possibly be held in slight regard by some, it possesses many points of interest worthy of deep attention. Each bloom (like the flower of the daisy) is an assemblage of many flowers. The young leaves, which are most curiously

cut, are often used in early spring as a salad, having the taste, when blanched, of endive. The roots, when roasted, are used by the poor of Germany as a substitute for coffee.

We have often heard a worthy town councillor of Bristol extol the medicinal virtues of this plant. There can be no doubt that it has been successfully used for the relief of dropsy, diseases of the liver, and other maladies.

The observer will not fail to notice the evidences of skill and wisdom manifested in the structure of this despised plant, and the wonderful precautions apparent for its protection and dispersion. After the bloom has past, a globe of feathery down of great beauty is formed-this is the provision made for the wide dispersion of the seed; to each seed is affixed a star of the finest down, and when the seed is ripe and loose it is lifted by these downy wings from the plant, and wafted high in air for long distances.

Meyrick says—" The young leaves eaten as a salad in spring are excellent in all scorbutic complaints."

FEBRUARY 9TH.

THE COMMON CHICKWEED.-(Stellaria média.)

"Still wintry is the scene;

The fields their dead and sapless russet wear;"

YET on every sheltered hedgebank trails the common chickweed, filling every neglected corner of the garden, and covering abundantly the fallows; like the common groundsel, it is destined as the winter food of birds. The flower of the plant is inconspicuous, yet not devoid of a quiet beauty (a clear white star, set in fresh green). The agriculturist and gardener deem it a troublesome weed, and vigorous attempts are made for its extirpation; but Nature having need for this humble plant, as soon as the soil is newly turned an abundant crop again springs forth.

The plant, although appearing very fragile, is hardy, suffering little from our severest winters. It spreads a constant table for the various tribes of finches, preserving numbers of these interesting birds from starvation. Cage birds are very

partial to the plant, and the cry of "chickweed !" is frequent in the streets of London for their supply.

The plant is a very good weather indicator. When the flowers are somewhat closed rain will be sure to fall within a few hours; if fully expanded, the umbrella may be safely left at home. Hooker recommends it as a pot-herb, boiled like spinach, for the table. In his time winter vegetables were more rare than with us; as a last resource, possibly chickweed might be endured. Culpepper says: "It is a fine, soft, pleasing herb, under the dominion of the moon, and good for many things."

The very meanest of our wayside plants are full of interest; we are, perhaps, too apt to despise them as weeds, but in the economy of Nature even these have their uses.

"Then think not Nature's scheme sublime

These common things might spare ;

For science may detect in time

A thousand virtues there."

The universal diffusion of this plant, and its remarkable powers of endurance, evidence to our minds that it is destined to serve some useful end.

FEBRUARY 10TH.

THE WOOD PIGEON, CUSHAT, OR RING PIGEON.-
(Columba Palumbus.)

"Screened in the lofty wood

The Stock Doves sit and brood."

In the secluded parts of the wood, where the tall firs are clustered together, we now begin to hear

"the deep mellow crush of the wood pigeon's note."

The bird mates and builds remarkably early in the season, when its plaintive cooing fills the wood with a mellow, murmuring sound. Occasionally the male bird may be seen to rise high in the air over the nesting place, and then fall