MONTHLY NATURE CALENDAR.[40] JANUARY. PLANT LIFE. General.—As in December (p. 422). Plants usually in flower.—Shepherd’s purse, daisy, snowdrop, and a few others. ANIMAL LIFE. General.—As in December (p. 422). Mammals.—Bats (p. 255) reappear at the end of the month. Birds.—Missel thrush (p. 306) sings. Insects.—Winter pupae of butterflies and moths (Chap. XIX.) may be found. [Pg 401] [Pg 402] FEBRUARY. PLANT LIFE. General.—As in December. Plants usually in flower.—Shepherd’s purse, daisy, snowdrop, hazel, and a few others. Hedges are now clipped; study the effect which this treatment has upon subsequent growth. Corn.— Barley and oats are sown. Liverworts.—Spore-cases of Pellia (p. 200) become visible. ANIMAL LIFE. General.—As in December. Mammals.—Bats reappear. Birds.—Thrushes and blackbirds pair and begin to build; study differences in song (pp. 304 and 308). Rooks repair and build nests (p. 318). Frogs. (p. 332) reappear. Insects.—Pupae of cabbage-white butterflies and other Lepidoptera may be found. [Pg 403] [Pg 404] MARCH. PLANT LIFE. General Work for Spring Months.—Study the germination of seeds and the early stages of growth of the new plants (Chap. I.); the structure and methods of unfolding of buds (Chaps. IV. and VIII.); the movements of young twining stems; “bleeding” of stems, and paths of food-currents (Chap. V.); and examine and collect spring flowers (Chaps. VI., VII., and VIII.). Plants usually in flower—Shepherd’s purse, marsh marigold, wild plum, daisy, dandelion, daffodil, snowdrop, hazel, alder, willow, poplar, elm, and others. Horsetail.—Fertile haulms (p. 195) appear. Corn.—Barley and oat sowing continued. ANIMAL LIFE. General Work for Spring Months.—Study the development of frogs and toads (Chap. XVIII.) and insects (Chap. XIX.); the development and education of the chick (Chap. XVI.); the nesting-habits of birds (Chap. XVII.); the education and play of lambs and other young mammals (Chap. XIV.); the habits of molluscs (Chap. XX.); and the work of earthworms (Chap. XX.). Stock aquaria. Mammals.—Lambs are born. Birds.—Thrushes, blackbirds, skylarks, rooks, and other birds lay eggs. Fieldfares and redwings begin to depart. Frogs and Toads lay their eggs. Insects.—Dytiscus (p. 361) lays eggs. Pupae of cabbage-white butterflies and other Lepidoptera may be found. [Pg 405] [Pg 406] APRIL. PLANT LIFE. Plants usually in flower.—Wallflower, shepherd’s purse, buttercup, anemone, marsh marigold, common vetch, plum, pear, strawberry, primrose, cowslip, daisy, dandelion, speedwell, red deadnettle, daffodil, wild hyacinth, wild tulip, rushes, arum, annual meadow grass, oak, birch, alder, willow, poplar, elm, ash, and others. Trees which unfold their leaf-buds.—Larch, horse chestnut, beech, elm, sycamore. Elm fruits (p. 154) are abundant; study the method of dispersal (p. 173).