diwing a May in Cumberland, 199 



effects severely. The severity must be keenly felt by the 

 insect tribe, which the slightest changes affect, and which, if 

 narrowly watched, would prognosticate those changes with as 

 much nicety as the thermometer. Notwithstanding the state 

 of the weather, I heard 



The Corncrake, Landrail, or Daker Hen of Bewick 

 (Rallus Crex L.), calling in the meadows not far from White- 

 haven. White, in his Natural History of Selborne, says it 

 arrives about the latter end of April. Considering our north- 

 ern latitude, and the unusual coldness of the season, this 

 may be deemed a not late appearance. From my own ob- 

 servation, corncrakes may usually be met with as soon as the 

 grass has grown sufficiently to shelter them ; and the time of 

 meeting with them varies with the varying forwardness or 

 backwardness of the season. 



15th. [Insects.'] The weather still chilly. A large white 

 butterfly was flying about on a bank with a southern exposure. 

 For some days past neither a Vanessa urticse nor a V. To have 

 been visible; and in the order Coleoptera but few insects are to 

 be found, even on hedges exposed to the sun for the greater 

 part of the day, and sheltered from the northern blasts at 

 night; which may be owing to the rawness and cold of the night. 



17th. Somewhat warmer. A friend informed me the 

 orange tip (Pontic cardamines) had been seen several days 

 ago : I saw this day, for the first time, several in meadows 

 lying low and warm ; and along with them a few of the veined 

 white butterfly were flitting sluggishly about. 



18th. A sensible change for the warmer. I saw, for the 

 first time, 



The Swift, Black Martin, or Deviling of Bewick (Hirundo 

 ^pus L.). White says they come about the middle of 

 April, but this is late even for us : I had been on the look out 

 for them for some time, so that I expect this is amongst the 

 first that has been seen hereabouts. Between ten and eleven 

 at night, there being no moon, 



The Cuckoo (Cuculus canbrus L.). was calling continuously, 

 along with innumerable corncrakes, which utter their harsh 

 notes, crake crake, almost incessantly after sunset. The 

 cuckoo, I believe, is a bird that sings by day only ; at least I 

 do not recollect ever having heard its note after sunset*, and 



# Mr. Murray attests (Vol. IV. p. 147.) his once hearing the cuckoo 

 singing even " at the witching hour of night ; " and Mr. W. H. White 

 gives evidence (Vol. IV. p. 466.) of another instance. The poet Campbell, 

 by a line in his exquisite Pleasures of Hope, seems to have been also 

 acquainted with the fact. The passage containing the line is so congenial 

 to the feelings of every naturalist, that we hope to be forgiven introducing 



o 4 



