The WINTER BIRDS OF PASSAGE have more points of resemblance among themselves than those of the former division. They chiefly belong to the tribe of water-fowls. None of them are insectivorous, and very few are granivorous. They principally frequent the creeks and sheltered bays of the sea, and the inland lakes, or they obtain their food in marshy grounds, or at the margins of springs. When the rigours of the season are over, and when other birds which are stationary are preparing for incubation, thèse take their departure, to be again succeeded by our summer

visitants.

The snow-bunting (emberiza nivalis), which is among the smallest of our winter guests, retires to the hoary mountains of Spitzbergen, Greenland, and Lapland, and there executes the purposes of incubation, making its nest in the fissures of the rocks. In these countries it is, therefore, a summer visitant, as it retires southward in autumn, to spend the winter in more temperate regions. To the sea-coasts of the same countries, the little auk (alca alle), and the black-billed auk (alca pica), repair for similar purposes as the snow-flake. The woodcock winters with us, but retires in the spring to Sweden, Norway, and Lapland. The fieldfare and the redwing resemble the woodcock in their migrations, depart at the same season, and retire for similar purposes to the same countries. These instances may suffice to support the conclusion, that all our winter birds of passage come from northern countries, and that the winter visitants of the south of Europe become the summer visitants of its northern regions. This is evidently an arrangement depending on the same law by which the African winter visitants become the summer birds of passage in Europe.

That these periodical movements take place, in order to guard against the vicissitudes of the seasons, must appear obvious to all, from the consideration of the facts which have been stated. An early winter brings the migrating birds from the north to

this country before their usual time, and an early spring hastens the arrival of our summer visitants. In the beginning of winter the snow-bunting is found only in the high grounds, and it descends to a lower level with the increasing severity of the season.

Attempts have been made to preserve these birds during the summer season in this country, but, although liberally supplied with food, they have not survived. The experiment has succeeded, however, in America, with General Davies, who informs us, (Linn. Trans. vol. iv, p. 157) that the snow-bird of that country always expires in a few days after being caught (although it feeds perfectly well), if exposed to the heat of a room with a fire or stove; but being nourished with snow, and kept in a cold room or passage, will live to the middle of summer: a temperature much lower than our summer heat proving destructive to these birds. The swallow, on the other hand, seems to delight in the temperature of our summer, and, at that heat, to be able to perform the higher operations of nature. When attempted to be kept during our winter, besides a regular supply of food, care must be taken to prevent it from being benumbed with cold.'

A flight of about 20 or 30 of the cross-bill (loxia curvirostra), in some places an unknown bird, and of rare occurrence in all parts of England, made its appearance in the beginning of October 1821, in the orchards about Oldbury and Littleton on Severn (Gloucestershire), committing great havock among the apples. We have no certain evidence that the cross-bill breeds in England, but a few years past a pair of these birds were shot about two miles distant from the same place on the 3d of August: the breast-bone and lower parts of the body of the female were divested of feathers, as is customary with brooding birds; from this circumstance, and

'See Dr. Fleming's very excellent Philosophy of Zoology,' lately published, vol. ii, pp. 30, et seq.

from their being found with us at this period of the year, it is probable that there was a nest in the neighbourhood.

Small birds begin now to congregate: the common linnet (fringilla linaria) is the first to lead the way, and immediately after rearing its brood it unites with its fellows and forms large associations: they are very cheerful, cleanly birds, and delight in consorting upon the head of some sunny tree, where they will dress and adjust their plumes with the greatest care, chattering with each other in the sunny beam by the hour together, in a low kind of symphony, in which all seem to unite: this, heard at a little distance, forms a very pleasing concert, joyous and innocent. The prattle is not only observable when in company with each other, but it is their constant custom thus to amuse themselves during any occasional bright, warm morning through the autumn or winter season: in the pairing time they separate, and then they utter only a few notes, a weak but cheerful harmony. The linnet is so fond of society, that, like a few other birds, several pairs of them build their nests, and rear their offspring, in the neighbourhood of each other; and a favourite field of gorse, in this season, becomes animated with these harmless little creatures.

Various kinds of waterfowl make their appearance; and, about the middle of the month, wild· geese leave the fens, and go to the rye lands, to devour the young corn. Rooks sport and dive, in a playful manner, before they go to root, congregating in large numbers. The starling (sturnus vulgaris) sings. (See T.T. 1821, p. 255.) The awk or puffin visits, for the purpose of incubation, some of the rocky isles of Britain, in amazing numbers.

On the appearance of the gossamer in this month, see T.T. for 1820, pp. 261-264; and on the gammamoth, consult T. T. 1821, p. 257.

The following flowers are now in blow: holly-hock, Michaelmas daisy, stocks, nasturtian, marigold, mig

nionette, lavender, wall-flower, china rose, virginia stock, heart's ease, laurustinus, rocket, St. John's wort, periwinkle, china asters, chrysanthemums, and American groundsel; the alkekengi now holds up its scarlet bladders encompassing a scarlet cherry full of seeds. But chiefly the dahlia, a flower now in general cultivation, exhibits its majestic and brilliant splendour of stars above its dark green stalks and leaves.-See T.T. 1821, pp. 258-260, for a description of the two species of dahlia usually grown, with full directions for rearing them.

Although this month is, in a great measure, devoid of floral attractions, yet fruits and seeds now claim our attention, and deserve our examination. What an amazing difference between an acorn and a stately oak! The seeds of plants may be compared to the chrysales of butterflies. The seed, like the chrysalis, contains, in miniature, all the parts of the future plant. These parts require only time, and other circumstances necessary to vegetation, for their complete evolution. How different are the seed-leaves from those of the plume! Beside the general changes arising from growth, plants undergo a number of metamorphoses from other causes. In northern climates, if we except a few evergreens, trees, during winter, are entirely stripped of their leaves. Instead of the pleasant emotions excited by the variety of figures, movements, colours, and fragrance of the leaves, flowers, and fruit, during the spring and summer, nothing is exhibited in winter but the bare stems and branches. In this state, the trees of the forest have a lugubrious appearance. Very different are the emotions we feel in spring, when the buds begin to burst, and the leaves to expand. When summer approaches, another beautiful change takes place. The flowers, with all their splendour of colours and sweetness of scents, are then highly delightful to our senses. After performing the office of cherishing and protecting the tender fruit for some time, the flowers drop off, and a new change is ex

hibited. When the flowers fall, the young fruit appear, and gradually grow to maturity, perpetually presenting varieties in their magnitude, colour, odour, and flavour. When the fruit and seed are fully ripe, they are gathered for the use of man, drop down upon the earth, or are devoured by birds and other animals. After this change happens, to which all the others were only preparatory, the leaves begin to shed, winter commences, and the same series of metamorphoses goes on during the existence of the plant. The changes just now mentioned are annual, and are ultimately intended to supply men and other animals with food. But plants are subjected to changes of form from causes of a more accidental nature. Varieties or changes in the figure of plants are often produced by soil, by situation, by culture, and by climate.

Hips and haws now ornament-the hedges. The berries of the bryony and the privet; the barberry, the blackberry, the holly, and the elder-from which is made the famous winter wine of Old England's peasantry-with sloes, bullaces, and damsons, are now in great plenty.

The chief harvest of apples takes place about the end of October; very little cider proves good unless it be made at this time, or in November and December: cider is sometimes made as late as Christmas. The apples which ripen early, rarely if ever make good cider. The counties of Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Somersetshire, and Devonshire, are celebrated for the manufacturers of cider and perry. Herefordshire is particularly famous as a cider country. It is a mistake to suppose that the golden pippin and some other varieties of the apple are extinct. They are still to be obtained in some districts of England.

The vintage, or harvest of grapes, as important to foreigners as the corn harvest is to us, takes place in October; and the vineyards of France, Germany, Swisserland, Italy, &c. &c. now resound with the