86 Peremiial Calendar of Nature, 



Various donations of books have been received during the present ses- 

 sion ; and the library, with very little assistance from the funds of the 

 Society, has thus been gradually increased. 



By referring to the analysis book, it appears that twenty-nine papers 

 have been read during the present session. Of these, two were on botany, 

 eleven on mineralogy, three on topography, besides several local commu- 

 nications not noticed among the analyses, and thirteen on the different 

 branches of zoology. By comparing this number with that read last ses- 

 sion, there appears an increase of five, which can only arise from a greater 

 number of extra papers. This is the best proof, if proof were required, of 

 the increased interest members now take in the affairs of the Society. 



In looking over the list of donations presented during the last year, we 

 are struck by the variety of countries whence they have been received. 

 We find the productions of the arctic regions in the next line to those of 

 the tropics, the crystals of Iceland beside the minerals of Peru. Science 

 seems to have power to annihilate distance, and to make the antipodes hold 

 converse with each other ; for, besides many specimens of plants, minerals, 

 and subjects of zoology, presented from different parts of Ireland and Eng- 

 land, donations have been received from Ceylon, Iceland, the Mediterra- 

 nean, the West Indies, Mexico, Peru, the Cape of Good Hope, St. 

 MichaePs, Lapland, and Antigua. 



From all these circumstances, from the gradual but constant progress 

 of the Society during the present session, from the increase of its numbers, 

 -from tlie additions to its library, and from the enlargement of its museum, 

 the curators feel confident of its future utility and advancement. 



The Juvenile Natural History Society of Belfast is, we believe, one of the 

 first societies of the kind that has ever been instituted. The general idea 

 is excellent, and we hope soon to give such particulars as will lead to the 

 formation of similar societies in other large towns. Dr. Drummond, in 

 speaking of this Society in his anniversary address, says, " the Juvenile Na- 

 tural History Society has wisely received your countenance and assistance ; 

 and in the young gentlemen who compose it, you naturally look forward to 

 future members to supply the places of those of us whose exertions cannot 

 be much longer expected." 



Art. VI. Perennial Calendar for various Parts of Europe. 



By a calendar of nature is to be understood a record of the times at 

 which certain annual or other changes take place in animals, plants, some 

 minerals, and the weather. The uses of such a calendar for any given situ- 

 ation, or for different stations throughout a country or division of the globe, 

 are various. To the cultivator it indicates more correctly than can be done 

 by the artificial measurements of time, the best periods for sowing and 

 planting, felling timber, gathering crops, destroying insects, &c.; to the 

 agriculturist it offers various suggestions in regard to the management of 

 animals as well as of hay, corn, and other field crops ; to the valetudinarian, 

 the tourist, or the retiring citizen in quest of a situation for a country 

 residence, it offers a choice of weather and climate; and, to the meteorolo- 

 gist, a variety of views and general conclusions, some of which are seen 

 or foreseen, and others will be the result of future conclusions from the 

 facts which we and others are putting on record. 



After considering the plans of the calendars of nature, which have been 

 published by White, Stillingfleet, Aikin, and especially by Dr. Forster, we 

 have arrived at the conclusion, that the way to render such a calendar 

 most generally useful, is to confine the indications to a limited number of 

 animals and plants, and to let these animals and plants be of the same 

 species in all the different stations where the observations are to be made. 

 We have made a selection below for every month in the year, and we 



