ost gh ieee oe el 4 bd a 
400 Naturalist’s Monthly Report. | [Nov 1, 
culty in getting pint home. The stupor remained for some days to such a degree, that he 
was hardly capable of giving an answer to any question proposed to him, but seems now gra- 
dually recovering. His appetite was unusually craving all the time. From the very vague * 
ecount given, Mr. Hurlock suspected that he had eaten the berries of Solanum Dulcarnara. 
i appeared, however, from more accurate enquiry, that he had only eaten the pulp of the 
ruit of the Sweet-briar, which it is presumed could not have been the cause of his disorder, 
unless he had unwittingly taken some insect, or some parasitical fungus at the same time. 
NATURALIST’s MONTHLY REPORT. 
SEPTEMBER. 
Rent is the ficecy mantle of the sky ; 
The clouds fly different; and the sudden sun 
By fits effulgent gilds th’ illumined field, 
And black, by fits, the shadows start along. 
DURING the first ten days of the present month, the weather has been cloudy, with more, 
\ or less rain almost every day. The wind has generally blown from the south-west ; 
and, for the most part, in strong, and sometimes in heavy gales. Onthe 12th, the wind was 
very boisterous, with much rain, and towards the evening several flashes of lightning were 
observed. The three foliowing days were changeable; but from the 16th till nearly the end 
of the month, the weather, on the whole, was fine and seasonable, : 
By the rains which fel) in the latter end of August and the beginning of September, a con- 
siderable quantity of the barley in this part of England has been much injured. 
The redbreast, that was mentioned in the last Report, continues so tame that it will alight 
upon and take insects out of the hands even ef strangers. . It appears to be nearly perfect in its 
colours. I mention this circumstance, because itis said that these birds do not always become 
red on their breast till their second year. 
September 1. A smooth green caterpillar, of large size, with rosy tubercles, and a pencil 
of hair from each tubercle, was yesterday brought to me, and has this day begun to spin its, 
case. Inthe beginning of August, I had one of the same kind given to me, which is now 
entirely concealed in its case, and has no doubt undergone the change into its chrysalid state, 
Yam inclined to think these are the caterpillars of that fine moth, the Tau Emperor (phalena 
Bombyx Tauus of Haworth). They are either fhe same as, or very nearly allied to, that en- 
graved in Reanmur’s Memoires, tom. I. p!. 48, fig. 1. : 
September 10. “The rooks, for the last three weeks, have continued to frequent their nest- 
trees during the daytime; but towards the evening they all fly off, as it is supposed, to roost 
in the forest. 
Chaflinches chirp 5; andthe woodlark sings. 
September 18. In consequence, [ presume, of the late rainy weather, mushrooms are 
found in the pasture-grounds in considerable quantity. Here isa very large kind (a variety of 
the commen mushroom),-fiequently used in making ketchup, that, when eaten in any quan- 
tity, either stewed er boiled, is, unwholesome, fronv the tough and indigestible nature of its 
fieshy parts. When cut through, after the mushroom has been stewed, these have semetimes 
the appearance of buff leather. In ketchup, however, it is supposed to be perfectly innox- 
jous, its juices being considered as wholesome as those of the proper kind, 
September 26. The breeders of bees ate now preparing to take their honey; but, proba- 
bly on account of the late rains, it is generally believed that the swarms will prove Iéss, pro- 
ductive than usual 
The ved-bressts have commenced their autumnal and winter’s song. 
September 28. I have. entirely neglected to take any note respecting the departure of. the 
swallows this year: but I’am inclined to think they have not been gone many days. The 
martins are yet flying aboutin great numbers, 
The teaves of several kinds of trees are beginning to assume their autumnal colours. "The 
fern is turacd brown; and in the New Forest the farmers are cutting it for winter bedding for 
their cattle. ee 
Walauts and hazelnuts are ripe; and acorns are beginning to fall. Swine are now sending 
from al parts of the surrounding neighbourhood into the forest, where, for several weeks, they 
will have.a full supply of food in acorns and beecomast. 
‘The flowers of the ivy are beginning t6 appear, and the fruit of the hop now adorns most. 
of our hedges. The froitef the laurel and mountain-ash is ripe. L. ; 
The saftron butterfly papilio byale) is sex fying about the tic!ds and hedges, 
September 30, I have not yet,been ingormed of the arsiyai of the woodcock into this part» 
ef the country. 
Hampsbire, : t 
1 J MONTHLY 
