Saxons, in whose time wolves were very numerous in England; and during the frost and snow of winter they were driven from their dens by hunger to attack animals, and even men. After Christianity was established, this name was changed to Aefter-yula, or after Christmas.

The first of January, "New-Year's day," has been celebrated from a very early time as a day of rejoicing among the Greeks and Romans; with the latter it was a day of visiting, and sending little presents of figs and sweetmeats to their friends, in honour of Janus, with wishes that they might enjoy all the sweets of the new year. It is kept as a holyday through Europe, and "NewYear's gifts" and good wishes are exchanged between friends.

The sixth of January, "Twelfth-day," is considered a day of feasting and merriment. The old custom of drawing lots, and taking fictitious characters for the evening, is still kept up in many families. In old times the king or queen of the feast was chosen by a bean concealed in a cake cut into different portions.

"Plough-Monday" is the Monday after Twelfth-day, and so called because it was customary to yoke the plough now for the first time after the New-Year's week (this week being a great holyday, and all farming labour stopped for the time). In some countries the "fool's plough" is dragged about on this day by dancers with music, and accompanied by people in strange dresses.

January generally brings more frost and snow than any

other month; and the ponds, rivers, and canals being fairly covered with ice, skating and sliding begin, and are favourite amusements. The snow keeps the roots of vegetables and plants from being injured by the cold. There is sometimes a good deal of sunshine in this month, and the stars are particularly bright and sparkling. The fox, polecat, and weasel, sometimes suffer severely from cold; and, being made bold by hunger, prowl about hen-roosts and farm-yards, committing great ravages among the poultry. Much mischief is also done by hares and rabbits in the gardens and wheat-fields, where they feed on the tender shoots, and sometimes the rabbits strip the young trees of their bark. The dormouse and marmot take their winter sleep, while the squirrel and field-mouse live upon the stores which they have laid up in their holes against the winter. Birds are often forced by the cold to leave their retreats in search of food. The red breast ventures into the house, and pays for his food by his song. Sparrows, yellow-hammers, and chaffinches, crowd about farm-houses and barn-doors to pick up crumbs and grains. The nuthatch is heard; and larks and linnets and other small birds flock to the warm stubble for shelter. Fieldfares, redwings, skylarks, and titlarks find gnats and other food in water-meadows. The titmouse may be seen pulling straw out of the thatch, and grey and pied wagtails flying round cows in search of insects. Jackdaws take up their abode in churches, and rooks in their nest-trees. Snipes, woodcocks, herons, wild-ducks, and other water-fowl, are driven from the frozen marshes to places where the waters are still open; and in extreme cold weather sea-birds come

inland to seek their food, and grosbeaks and silktails sometimes come from foreign lands. Missel-thrushes, songthrushes, skylarks, titlarks, wrens, blackbirds, and chaffinches, begin to sing. Few insects are seen, excepting snails and slugs. The chief business of the farmer is to feed and shelter his cows and sheep, to thrash his barley for malting, to prune his trees, and cut down timber. Towards the end of January wolf's-bane, the red dead - nettle, groundsel, rosemary, mezereon, snowdrop, creeping crow'sfoot, and daisy, are in flower. The crocus appears above ground, if the weather is mild; the catkin or blossom of the hazel unfolds; the flowers of the holly open; and the leaves of the honeysuckle are quite out.

THIS month was also named by Numa Pompilius, who dedicated it to the Roman goddess Februa. The Saxons called it Sprout-kele, because the kale or cabbage begins to sprout in this month; and Sol-monath, the sun-month.

14th of February, "Valentine's Day."-St. Valentine was a priest or bishop who suffered martyrdom at Rome about 270. On this day many curious and absurd customs are still kept up, and young people sometimes send foolish letters called "Valentines" to each other, which custom is said to have arisen from a festival among the Romans called the "Lupercalia."

"Shrove Tuesday" is the Tuesday following the Sunday before Lent. The Roman Catholics were expected to prepare themselves for Lent by confessing their sins on this day. This was called by the people shriving, from which came the word shrove. It was afterwards kept as a day of idle sports and amusements, on which bull-baiting, cockfighting, and the like cruel sports took place, but which are now, it is to be hoped, put an end to in England. The custom of frying pancakes on this day is still in practice in many families. Formerly the kitchen was opened, and every neighbour or passer-by allowed to go in and fry a pancake: probably this practice began from the custom in religious houses to spread the table on this day for all pilgrims and travellers.

seen.

The weather generally begins to be less cold in February, although it is often wet and gloomy. The frost and snow thaw, which sometimes causes a flood sufficient to do much mischief. Signs of returning spring are The woodlark and yellow-hammer begin to sing, and the woodpecker is heard in the woods; the raven builds her nest; and many birds leave the shelter of our houses and farms, and begin to pair. On a sunny day one or two early caterpillars, who have lain torpid through the winter, may be seen, and a crowd of gnats buzzing on every side. The frogs croak; and the moles throw up their hillocks as soon as the earth is softened.

The farmer ploughs his land and sows his spring-wheat, beans, pease, and oats; the gardener prunes his trees, and digs and sows his borders.