BIRDS AND NATURE. ILLUSTRATED BY COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY. Vol. IX. FEBRUARY, 1901. No. 2 CONTENTS. FEBRUARY. 49 FROST-WORK. 49 THE HAWKS. 50 INTERESTING STONE HOUSES. 55 THE ALASKAN SPARROW. 56 THE DOWITCHER. (_Macrorhamphus griseus._) 59 All the beautiful stars of the sky 59 SOME THINGS WE MIGHT LEARN FROM THE LOWER ANIMALS. 60 THE GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE. (_Quiscalus macrourus._) 62 THE EAGLE. 62 THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF BIRDS. 65 THE HOODED WARBLER (_Sylvania mitrata._) 71 MRS. JANE’S EXPERIMENT. 72 A STROLL IN THE FROST KING’S REALM. 73 SNAILS OF THE FOREST AND FIELD. 74 THE GILA MONSTER. (_Heloderma suspectum._) 80 BIRD NOTES. 85 THE POMEGRANATE. (_Punica granatum._) 86 FISHES AND FISH-CULTURE AMONG THE GREEKS AND ROMANS. 89 CINNAMON. (_Cinnamomum cassia blume._) 95 AT DUSK. 96 FEBRUARY. Still lie the sheltering snows, undimmed and white; And reigns the winter’s pregnant silence still; No sign of spring, save that the catkins fill, And willow stems grow daily red and bright. These are the days when ancients held a rite Of expiation for the old year’s ill, And prayer to purify the new year’s will; Fit days, ere yet the spring rains blur the sight, Ere yet the bounding blood grows hot with haste, And dreaming thoughts grow heavy with a greed The ardent summer’s joy to have and taste; Fit days, to give to last year’s losses heed, To reckon clear the new life’s sterner need; Fit days, for Feast of Expiation placed! —Helen Hunt Jackson. FROST-WORK.