402 Calendar of Nature for London, 



that universal favourite, the camellia. Room would be wanting were we 

 to enumerate all the persons, whether. in a public or private capacity, who 

 have rendered services to the institution, and it would but appear invidious 

 to make a selection j suffice it to say, that the Directors have ever felt a 

 grateful sense of their kindness. We cannot conclude this report, already 

 perhaps extended to too great a length, without expressing a fervent wish 

 that it were possible to put this noble and deserving establishment upon a 

 permanent foundation. In considering the proprietors individually, this 

 would be the most simple of all things, for a small annual sum from each 

 would render it perfectly independent j and, let it be observed, that such is 

 the plan with every other institution of the kind in the kingdom. It can 

 only be done here by general consent : whereas, now, the expense, which 

 ought to be shared by all, falls only upon the generous and the liberal ; 

 whose names, however, will stand enrolled in the Annals of the Society as 

 its disinterested friends and patrons. 



Art, IV. Calendar of Nature for London, 



August, — Flora. The spring-like weather which has continued through- 

 out the summer months, keeps many plants in flower which are usually 

 over at this time. The only garden flower which particularly marks the 

 season is the autumnal crocus (Colchicum officinalis), which flowered on the 

 29th. Harvest began in a few favoured spots in the last week of July, was 

 generally in hand by the middle of August, but much retarded by frequent 

 rains. 



Fauna. The great body of swifts (Cjpselus ^'pus Cuv.) was observed 

 passing to the south-westward on the 10th and 1 Ith ; the last (a single one) 

 was seen on the 18th. Towards the end of the month, swallows and house 

 martens congregate, and are often seen resting on the ridges or sloping roofs 

 of buildings. 



September. — Flora. In the beginning came forth the Colchicum varie- 

 gatum, G^entiana purpurea, Helianthus atrorubens, Heliopsis laeVis, JE'chium 

 grandiflorum, Jpargia^Taraxaci, and several of the perennial asters. 



Fauna. Except swallows and house martens, very few migratory sum- 

 mer birds are seen after the middle of the month. The sedge warbler 

 (Curruca salicaria) was the last observed. The redbreast's winter song 

 is already heard. The notes of a few late-breeding song-thrushes were 

 heard on the 12th. A pair of these birds hatched their young so late 

 as the 15th, in the court of the Royal Military Asylum, Chelsea. It is 

 remarkable that they chose for their nestling place one of the lower boughs 

 of an elm, immediately over the gymnastic exercise ground, and in the 

 midst of the noise and violent action of hundreds of boys, besides the fre- 

 quent rolling of drums and all other military music daily. The young 

 flew, being protected, while in the nest, by a special order of the com- 

 mandant. 



Insects have not been so numerous as they are in dry summers, and many 

 which appear early have only made their appearance lately. Garden insects 

 '^re only seen about London, especially those that visit the discous flowers. 

 Among them were noticed a few of the splendid grand admiral butterfly 

 (Vanessa Atalanta), appearing about the 8th ; and, on the same flowers, many 

 of the genus Jliusca and Bombylius ; also all the common species of Tipula, 

 Tabanus, Culex, and ^silus. The warm weather has brought forth many 

 spiders ; the Diaderaa unusually numerous ; the Montana appeared on the 

 24th. 



