lichen flavus of Withering); and the common club moss (lycopodium clavatum).-See T. T. for 1814, p. 333. Of the liverworts, or lichens, there are more than three hundred and sixty species, the greater number of which are natives of Britain. Towards the end of the month, woodcock shooting commences. The predictive signs of his appearance are faithfully marked by the author of Fowling,' a poem; and the haunts and habits of this bird are prettily described by the same author. (See FoWLING, a Poem, pp. 101, 102, 109, 110.) Of the snipe (scolopax gallinago), which becomes a prey to the fowler in this and the following month, there are more than forty varieties, mostly breeding in Europe, and subsisting on insects. Some of these wild-fowl frequent moors, others delight in swampy bushes, and still others in the open fields. The two first classes are common in Britain, especially during the summer, and sometimes throughout the year: they seldom exceed four ounces in weight, and are, together with their long bill, from ten to twelve inches in length: the breast and belly are white; the back is covered with long feathers, beautifully variegated with black and reddish-brown spots. Snipes are most frequent on lofty mountains, and in moors, bogs, or marshy situations, where they construct their nests of dried grass, and lay four dusky olive-coloured eggs. In hard winters, snipes will approach within a short distance of great cities, in search of food; and several have been seen, at different times, in the depth of winter, within three or four miles of London. Snipe shooting takes place in this month: for a description of it we must refer to "6 FOWLING," a Poem, before quoted. The shortest day, or winter solstice, happens on the 21st of December; and the joyful season of Christinas is now fast approaching. From ev'ry hedge is plucked, by eager hands, CHRISTMAS, a Poem. In this month, those wild animals which pass the winter in a state of torpidity retire to their hiding places. The frog, lizard, badger, and hedgehog, which burrow under the earth, belong to this class; as also the bat, which is found in caverns, barns, &c. suspended by the claws of its hind feet, and closely enveloped in the membranes of the fore feet. Dormice, squirrels, water-rats, and field-mice, provide a large stock of food for the winter season. On every sunny day through the winter, clouds of insects, usually called gnats (tipulæ and empedes), appear sporting and dancing over the tops of evergreen trees in shrubberies; and they are seen playing up and down in the air, even when the ground is covered with snow. At night, and in frosty weather, or when it rains and blows, they appear to take shelter in the trees. Description of Forest Trees. [Concluded from p. 334.] YEW-TREE (taxus baccata).-The yew-tree thrives most luxuriantly in a moist loamy soil; though it is often found in rocky and mountainous situations. It flowers in March or April, and soon afterwards shows its bright-red berries, which arrive at perfection in September. The period of their growth is computed at one hundred years, and their life at four centuries. The yew-tree is generally raised as an ornament to parks and plantations, on account of its evergreen leaves. This useful tree admits of being frequently pruned, and may be made to assume any particular figure: hence the gardens of our forefathers were filled with ships, birds, quadrupeds, men, and other gorgons dire.' The yew is also advantageously planted in hedges, as a fence for orchards and shrubberies against severe winds. Some very fine yew-trees are to be found in many churchyards of England (particularly in the south), and in Wales. In a churchyard near Aberystwith, we have seen eleven yews, the largest being twentyfour feet in circumference. A noble yew-tree is said to exist in the New Forest, not far from the banks of the Lymington River, occupying a small knoll. The yew-tree was probably planted in churchyards from motives of superstition. Our forefathers were particularly careful in preserving this funereal tree, whose branches it was usual to carry in solemn procession to the grave, and afterwards to deposit therein under the bodies of their departed friends. It may also be added, that the yew-tree has been considered an emblem of mourning from the earliest times. The Greeks adopted the idea from the Egyptians, the Romans from the Greeks, and the Britons from the Romans. From long habits of association the yew acquired a sacred character, and, therefore, was considered as the best and most appropriate ornament of consecrated ground. The custom of placing them singly is equally antient. Statius, in his sixth Thebaid, calls it the solitary yew: and it was, at one time, as common in the churchyards of Italy, as it is now in North and South Wales. In many villages of those two provinces, the yew-tree and the church are coeval with each other. I The poisonous quality of the yew-tree has long been a matter of dispute; but Mr. White has put the fact beyond a doubt, and has given us some other particulars relative to this interesting tree. Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne, p. 324, 4to. In the churchyard of Selborne,' says he, is a male yew-tree of a great age, twenty-three feet in girth, which, in the spring, sheds clouds of dust, and fills the atmosphere around with its farina. As far as we have been able to observe, the males of this species become much larger than the females ; and it has so fallen out, that most of the yew-trees in the churchyards of this neighbourhood are males: but this must have been matter of mere accident, since men, when they first planted yews, little dreamed that there were sexes in trees. In a yard, in the midst of the street, till very lately, grew a middle-sized female tree of the same species, which commonly bore great crops of berries. By the high winds, usually prevailing about the autumnal equinox, these berries, then ripe, were blown down into the road, where the hogs ate them : and it was very remarkable, that, though barrow-hogs and young sows found no inconvenience from this food, yet milch-sows often died after such a repast; a circumstance that can be accounted for only by supposing that the latter, being much exhausted and hungry, devoured a larger quantity. While mention is making of the bad effects of yew-berries, it may be proper to remind the unwary, that the twigs and leaves of yew, though eaten in a very small quantity, are certain death to horses and cows, and that in a few minutes. A horse tied to a yew-hedge, or to a faggot-stack of dead yew, shall be found dead before the owner can be aware that any danger is at hand: and the writer has been several times a sorrowful witness to losses of this kind among his friends; and, in the island of Ely, had once the mortification to see nine young steers or bullocks of his own all lying dead in an heap from browzing a little on an hedge of yew in an old garden, into which they had broken in snowy weather. Even the clippings of a yew-hedge have destroyed a whole dairy of cows, when thrown inadvertently into a yard. And yet sheep and turkies, and, as park-keepers say, deer, will crop these trees with impunity. 'Some intelligent persons assert, that the branches of yew, while green, are not noxious; and that they will kill only when dead and withered, by lacerating the stomach; but to this assertion we cannot by any means assent, because, among the number of cattle that we have known fall victims to this deadly food, not one has been found, when it was opened, but had a lump of green yew in its paunch.' The wood of this tree is hard and smooth, beautifully veined with red streaks, admits of a fine polish, and is almost incorruptible: hence it is advantageously employed by turners and cabinet-makers, for manufacturing spoons, cups, as well as tables, chairs, and various other articles. It is also usefully converted into cogs for mill-wheels, axle-trees, floodgates for fish-ponds, &c. Were every falt'ring tongue of man, ALMIGHTY FATHER! silent in thy praise, Thy works themselves would raise a general voice; By human foot untrod, proclaim thy power. THE severe weather which is often experienced in the months of December and January, should call forth the active benevolence of the rich, that they may meliorate not only the distresses of the poor, but the silent sufferings of thousands who are unable to labour, and who are ashamed to beg. Poor naked wretches, wheresoe'er you are, But alas! how many times are we forced to ex claim, with the poet— Blow, blow, ye WINDS, with heavier gust! And freeze, thou bitter-biting FROST! |