MARCH 14TH.

THE PERENNIAL OR DOGS' MERCURY.—(Mercurialis perénnis.)

"Already Spring kindles the birchen spray,

And the hoar pines already feel her breath."

GOETHE'S FAUST.

THOUGH the tokens of spring's approach are as yet but slight and indistinct, yet to the careful observer every tree tells of the preparation that has been made during the past month for the early development of the swelling buds into the verdant leaf. Still, however, we look upward through leafless branches to the clear gray sky; and as we pass onward through the woodland the reign of silence seems undisputed, save by the rustle of the fallen dried leaves that lie a foot deep in the hollows. As we gather and examine a spray of Dogs' Mercury plant, so plentiful amid the copse, the full, clear notes of the chaffinch resound through the wood, and, as if this was an agreed signal, a spring chorus commences in which the notes of the robin, wren, hedge-sparrow, and saw-tit are distinct and clear; but as yet we detect no note of our early spring visitors.

"But hark that sound! the mavis! can it be?

Once more! It is, high perched on yon bare tree
He starts the wondering winter with his trill.”

VAUGHAN.

All along the woodpath the Perennial Mercury has sprung up so thickly as to cover the ground with its green leaves, now fresh and tender, but soon assuming a darker tint and becoming rough to the touch; the flower, or rather seed-stalks-for there are no flowers properly speaking-are square, and beset with numerous triangular buds. The calyx of some have curled backward, disclosing numerous hair-like filaments, each crowned with anthers, with globular lobes, like minute green dots. The plant is common in shady hedgerows, woodlands, &c. Cattle crop it eagerly, and not unfrequently suffer severely in consequence; indeed, it occasionally proves fatal. Notwithstanding its poisonous qualities, dogs resort to it as a medicine, hence it has been called dogs' cabbage-we have never noticed any ill result following even a liberal cropping by dogs. The plant appears to have been highly recom

mended by the old herbalists for external and internal use in a number of ailments incident to the human frame, but the dog appears to be now the only animal that has faith in its medicinal qualities. It may be eaten without injury when boiled, but raw, roasted, or fried, it is a powerful poison to

man.

MARCH 15TH.

THE CHAFFINCH.-(Fringilla cælebs.)

THIS bird now begins to assume its summer plumage; the front of the head is of bluish black, the back chesnut, and the breast reddish. It may readily be known by the brilliant white bars running across the wing. The shape of the bird is extremely elegant, and its habits are active and lively. The spring song is short, but clear and full toned; it is a very early builder, and the male bird, then taking its station not far from the nesting-place, repeats its sprightly song for the entertainment of his partner

"Full and clear the sprightly ditty rings,
Cheering the brooding dame."

When alarmed the bird utters a sharp cry of "twink, twink," by which name it is known in some localities. It is one of our most beautiful nest-builders; the nest is, indeed, a perfect model

"Deep-hollowed; well disguised

With lichens gray and mosses gradual blent."

The nest is adjusted so admirably to the tree in which it is placed, and the lichens are so artfully arranged and so accurately matched, that the nest looks like a part of the tree.

The Chaffinch is rarely met with in England as a cage bird; in Germany it is the great favourite, advantage being taken of its teachable qualities-the bird is, indeed, put through a regular course of instruction, as a prima donna, and thus its full, clear tones are made to trill into a variety of songs. passion for this bird seems to possess the Germans, high and

low. Bechstein says: "I confess I am one of its warmest admirers." Among the peasants it is not uncommon to find that they will undergo great privations to possess a bird of fine song; and at Ruhl, a village in Thuringa, a cow is sometimes exchanged for a Chaffinch! This extravagance might perhaps be forgiven, but nothing can excuse the inhuman practices resorted to in the hope of improving the song of this bird. Some wretches keep their birds during summer in dark, illventilated holes, that when they are brought into the air and sunlight they may express a more rapturous joy in song; others, more barbarous still, destroy the sight of the bird. Bechstein says: "What can we think of the heart and morals of a people who, for a slight amusement, thus enjoy the sufferings of a sensitive being that is unfortunately in their power?"

MARCH 16TH.

THE COMMON RED DEAD NETTLE.—(Lamium purpureum.)

THERE is a deep interest (especially at this season) in watching the periodic march of the phenomena of Nature-the gradual budding, leafing, blooming, and fruiting of the various forms of vegetable life; and the observer cannot but be forcibly impressed by the wisdom, power, and beneficence of an unseen Director. Day by day the swelling bud increases, until, moistened with the warm rains of spring, it bursts into fresh green, and progresses onward by imperceptible degrees to the flower bud, blossom, and fruit, yet ever bearing witness, from the beginning, of elaborate design. By what soft gradations the barrenness of winter is blotted out-how gradually the fresh greenery spreads along the hedge banks from early spring up to summer's prime, when we see in every lane

"All creeping plants, a wall of green;
Close-matted bur and brake and briar."

And though it may appear occasionally that Nature has stayed her handiwork, that vegetation is entirely at a standstill, and

"The young leaves pine their early promise stayed,"

progress is still being made, for strength is being gathered. How cautiously our hardy hedge plants now put forth their new leaves! The arum rolled into a glossy sheath; the primrose wrinkled in folds, as though shrinking from the cold March winds; still, however, blossoms may be found, though"Scarce does the glossy celandine appear, Starring the sunny bank, or early green

The elder yet its circling tufts put forth."

The hardy red nettle boldly holds up its trumpet-shaped purple blossoms, with coral red pollen, and spreads out its heartshaped leaves tinged with purple, occasionally marked with a white line down the centre, and covered with soft downy hairs, as though fearless of the bitterest blast. The plant ranks as one of our humblest weeds, yet it is valuable--the early bloom offers food to the parent bees when flowers are few. The leaves are held in repute as a good remedy for stopping effusion of blood; and, if we put faith in Culpepper, "it makes the heart merry, drives away melancholy, quickens the spirits, and is good against quartain agues." Let none, therefore, despise this wayside flower, for if we cannot esteem it for its beauty we should for its constancy, as it blooms all year round.

the

MARCH 17TH.

THE BITTER PURPLE WILLOW.-(Salix purpúrea.)

"The Willow springing

Where the waters gently pass,

Every way her pale arms flinging

O'er the moist and reedy grass;

Long ere winter blasts are fled,
See her tipped with vernal red,
And her kindly flower displayed

Ere her leaf can cast a shade.-KEEBLE."

THE varieties of Willows are almost endless. The bitter purple Willow is somewhat rare; it scarcely attains to the dignity of a tree in height, but pushes forth its slender branches over the

slow-flowing river, bending to the water's surface and dipping in the stream. It presents at this season of the year a very ornamental and cheering appearance, the taper branches crowded with rosy catkins, for as yet the smooth shining leaves have not burst forth, and ere they are fully developed the catkins will have faded. The Rose Willow, another variety very closely related to the purple, and more common, often attains some ten to twelve feet in height, the branches growing erect. Both varieties flower in March. It derives its name from the peculiar rose-like appearance of the catkins. The medical properties of many of our Willows have been generally admitted. The Purple Willow is especially remarkable for the amount of bitter principle contained in the bark, most valuable as an astringent, tonic, or febrifuge, similar in quality though not so powerful as the celebrated Jesuits' bark (cinchona), the essential product of which is quinine—an admirable remedy both for debility of the stomach and relaxation of the mucous membranes. It is usually administered as an infusion (the dried bark powdered in cold water). The mode of preparation recommended is to strip the bark in spring from the middle-sized branches; if from a tree in its full, healthy growth the bark will give out a strong odour of bitter almonds. The drying process is directed to be carried out entirely in the shade. It should, however, be remembered that the bark of the "cinchona," on the contrary, is immediately exposed to the full power of the sun, its value depending on the rapidity with which it is dried.

It is not unworthy of remark that the Willows flourish in wet, marshy districts, where agues and low fevers are generated, and that there is no better remedy for those diseases than the bark of the Willow, so that the faith of the old herbalists that each district of the earth brought forth that which was most fitting for man's food and medicine, was not altogether destitute of truth. The Willow was held by them in high repute, so that the very branches carried with them a healing power. Culpepper says, "It is a fine cool tree, the boughs of which are very convenient to be placed in the chamber of one sick of a fever."