t 160 ] 



ZOOLOGICAL CALENDAR FOR MAY. 



The greater number of our English quadrupeds have already 

 brought forth their young, and are engaged in providing for 

 their respective families. The hind produces her offspring 

 about the end of the month. 



In this month, the latest of our summer birds of passage 

 arrive. The fly-catcher (Muscicapa Grisola,) is mentioned 

 in White's Calendar as appearing about the middle of the 

 month, and is called by him " the latest bird of passage." 

 Several other species are also first seen about the same time ; 

 amongst which are the swift (Hirundo Apus), the goat- sucker 

 (Caprimulgus EuropcBiis), the red-backed shrike (Lanius 

 Collurio), the land rail (Rallus Crex), the wood wren {Sylvia 

 Sibilatrix), the fauvette (Sylvia hortensis), the field lark 

 (Alauda trivialis), &c. The following species are engaged 

 in incubation, or in preparing their nests, — the sky lark 

 (Alauda arvensis), the greater redpole (Fringilla cannabi- 

 na), yellow wren (Sylvia Trochilus), goldfinch (Fringilla 

 Carduelis), bullfinch (Loxia Pyrrhula), bearded tit (Parus 

 biarmicus), golden plover (Charadiius pluvialis), and the 

 ring dottrel or ring plover (Charadrius hiaticula), which, if 

 not the same species, is very nearly allied to the one which 

 renders such grateful service to the crocodile. 



Numerous tribes of insects which have been unseen by us 

 during the winter months, again show themselves as the 

 warmth of the sun increases. Several species of moths and 

 butterflies may be seen, — the dragon fly (Libellula), the lady 

 cow (Coccinella bipunctata), the May bug (Scarab&us Me- 

 lolontha), the forest fly (Hippobosca equina), the female wasp 

 (Vespa vulgaris), &c. appear; field crickets (Gryllus cam- 

 pestris) are heard; and the light of the glow-worm (Lamjjy- 

 rus noctiluca) may be noticed in the evening on banks near 

 woods and hedge ways. 



The greater number of our fresh-water fish, and of our 

 reptiles, have already deposited their spawn ; the perch (Perca 

 fiuviatilis), the bream ( Cyprinus Brama), the minnow (Leu- 

 ciscus phoxinus) , and the chub (Leuciscus cephalus) deposit 

 their spawn during this month. 



