Following on from some woodblock "nature" prints that Lizzi Humphreys shared on Face Book - -
That seemingly countrified little animal, the hedgehog, turns up in all sorts of unexpected places, rabbits raid the cabbage patch and long-tailed mice steal the seeds from the toolshed.
First published 1946
January
The new year is here, but only a defiant robin and an optimistic thrush dare lift their voices in song.
One day, I found a thrushes anvil on the side of the garden path, and judging by the litter of broken shells, the bird must have accounted for a couple of dozen snails.
February,
is an uncertain month, no one, no bird nor beast - and wild creatures always seem to know much more about the impending weather changes than we do - can tell what is coming next.
The garden birds are full of life. if we stare from our window as the dawn light creeps up the sky, we shall see the early birds seeking not only early worms but joyous combat.
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March,
whether it "comes in like a lamb", whether it "goes out like a lion", is ever a month of unexpected happenings and delightful surprises.
March brings in surprises not only in the matter of nests but in other things, as when on a mils and sunny morning we find a tortoiseshell butterfly fluttering in the window, anxious to escape and be off into the outside world. It is a world of great hazard for so frail an insect, for at any moment the sun may vanish behind a dark cloud, he wind veer to the east and a biting hail shower come whistling down the bitter blast.
However, the butterfly cares not for such possibilities. It came into the house in the autumn, it tucked itself away in a corner of the room close to the ceiling and there it slept in its profound unconsciousness which enables this species to survive the winter and reappear in the spring.
Presently small rabbits will emerge to sit among the primroses and stare at the wonders of the world, but that will not be for a week or two, so let us turn to the hedgehog, which, like the tortoiseshell butterfly, is now waking up from its winter sleep to wander through the dusk and seek a drink at the garden pool.
April
brings forth days of joy, with daffodils shaking their golden trumpets in the breeze, primroses in thick clusters on the banks and early butterflies dancing over the sallows.
May,
our neighbours of garden and hedgerow are very busy now.
Swifts are never so friendly and intimate as swallows and martins, yet they are fond of nesting in holes under the eaves, and then dash round the house with wild screams.
A letterbox is also attractive to tits, and I have known quite a number taken over by these little birds.
June
is an adventurous month when many young creatures take their first look at the great world.
An owlet, more adventurous than its wings warrant, essays too much, and finds itself fluttering to earth.
The best thing to do for it is to pick it up, taking care it does not drive its sharp talons into your hand, and put it in some nearby tree. The probability is that the parents will hear its calls and come for it in the night.
The kindest thing with all foundlings, unless you are sure they are hopelessly lost, is to put them under the shelter of bushes where the old birds are likely to find them.
July.
This is the month of high summer, when the roses begin to drop their petals and birds cease to sing. No longer does the bird choir disturb us at break of day.
August
is a somewhat quiet month so far as birds and beasts are concerned.
is a somewhat quiet month so far as birds and beasts are concerned.
Martins and swallows are wonderful fly catchers, though those creatures of the twilight, the bats are nearly as good.
The swallow tribe police the air by day and when they retire at dusk the bat tribe come out and take up the work.
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September
is a month of harvesting for man, beast and bird, of last revels for the insect throng and of leave taking for many a bird.
is a month of harvesting for man, beast and bird, of last revels for the insect throng and of leave taking for many a bird.
It is curious to think that during the latter days of summer, when the birds which came to us in the spring are getting ready to leave, many butterflies and moths arrive here from overseas.
Reverting to raiders of the garden, a walnut tree is marvellously attractive to rooks.
We have a very tall one at my home, and so soon as the nuts begin to ripen black forms are seen and cawing voices are heard flying around the house.
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October
month of flaming colour, of nuts and berries has arrived, decking the countryside in splendour but bringing with it a hint of winter.
The morning mists are chilly and they deposit heavy dew on grass and bushes, to reveal one of autumns great beauties, the spider snares that hang like lace, here, there and everywhere.
It was very worried at finding itself trapped, and washed its face with vigour. When a mouse is bothered and worried it shows its annoyance in this way, dressing itself from nose tip to tail tip. Long-tailed and yellow-tailed mice are an object lesson to boys and girls, for when washing their faces they never forget to go behind their ears.
November
dampness makes grub hunting good fun and for the most part the autumn crop stays untouched on the bushes
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December
with short days and long dark nights, with last leaves fluttering from the trees to jointheir fellows that lie piled up on the ditch and on the roadside, we realise that winter is really here.
with short days and long dark nights, with last leaves fluttering from the trees to jointheir fellows that lie piled up on the ditch and on the roadside, we realise that winter is really here.
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Indeed in many respects I think December, despite being the last month of the year, is as interesting as any of the twelve, though each in turn is full of enthralling things.
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