296 'Indicatorial Calendar. 



woods, in search of dead animals, on which it preys and breeds ; colour 

 black, with two belts of yellow across each shell. A dead mole seems to 

 be its favourite repast. 



August. — Flora. Many of what are called " the solstitial wreath of the 

 goddess of flowers'* are still in beauty; to which there are added dahlias, 

 hollyhocks, convolvuli, and all the new splendid varieties of CE^othera, 

 NicotiflTM!, &c., in the gardens. In the fields, and on wastes, foxgloves, 

 toadflax, chiccory, &c., are the most striking flowers. 



Fauna. Our song-birds are almost all silent. The black-cap has not 

 been heard during the last week. A song-^thrush, and now and then a sky- 

 lark, may occasionally be heard ; but the general harmony of the woods is 

 over. Swifts appear to be directing their flight to the south-westward, the 

 wet season urging their departure. Insects do not appear to be so plentiful 

 as they are in dry summers ; the common lady-bird (Coccin^lla 7-punctata 

 Lin.) is even rare about London this year, but the C. S-punctatae are 

 numerous ; neither are aphides so prevalent as they sometimes are. 



The weather^ for the last two months, has only been a continuation of that 

 which preceded. Unfortunately for the country, but few places have 

 escaped heavy and unseasonable rains ; causing floods, and much damage to 

 the crops. There must be a particular reason for this weather, which the 

 " Perennial Calendar," kept at a sufficient number of points, will be one of 

 the most certain means of developing. — J. M. Chelsea, August 15. 



Art. VII. Indicatorial Calejidar. 



DuiiiNG the next two months, naturalists are on the alert for insects ; and 

 the stag, fox, hare, badger, otter, marten, «nd polecat, are pursued by sports- 

 men. 



Birds. — The pheasant, moorcock, ptarmigan, heathcock, mountain-cock, 

 partridge, quail, woodcock,'^and land rail, are all the immediate objects of the 

 sportsman's attention ; besides all the water birds which come within range 

 of his barrel. Even the heavy bustard would not escape, did not its own timi- 

 dity keep it afar from the paths of man. Of birds which migrate to other 

 countries, the time of their leaving is the only circumstance worth notice. 

 The greater number depart in September ; the swallow generally about the 

 10th of October ; and the house and sand martens about eight days later, 

 according to the warmth of weather. 



Insects. — The following, among others, maybe met with : Coccin^lla 

 12-punctkta'; Papilio Machaow and Vanessa wrticae butterflies. Sphinx 

 convolvuli (the convolvulus hawk moth) and iSphinx A'tropo5 (the death's 

 head moth). Also, theTortrix tripunctata, and the harvest bugs, Stomoxys 

 calcitrans and irritans, may be both seen and felt. Some or all of these 

 may also be met with in October ; and, in addition, the Noctua exoleta (the 

 large sword-grass moth), the Geometra connectaria (the connecting umber), 

 and the T^nea gelat^lla (the autumnal dagger moth). 



The Sea and Fresh-water Fish which will be in the London market 

 during the next two months, are nearly such as were named fof June and 

 July, with the addition of cod and herrings. 



Astronomical Remarks. — Two of the superior j)lanets are now particu- 

 larly attractive on evenings, soon after sunset ; viz. Jupiter in the south, 

 and Mars in the south-east, part of the heavens. The moon will be with 

 them ; and the other planets, in the course of the two next months, on the 

 days and times following : — 



