THE FARMER AT HOME. 231 



le luce, one species of which, with extreme delicacy of scent, should 

 lever in a garden be omitted. Towards the end of this month, many 

 >f the singing hirds cease their notes ; the nightingale, in particular, 

 s scarcely, if ever, heard after the thirtieth ; nor is the cuckoo often, 

 hough occasionally, later in song. Migratory and other birds are 

 low busy in the work of incubation. In this month, also, some fruits 

 ire ripe, among which the cherry and the strawberry are the chief. 



JUNIPER TREE. A sort of tree or shrub, having long, narrow, 

 and prickly leaves, and bearing a soft pulpy berry. This shrub is 

 3ommon on heaths and barren hills, but the berries, which are used 

 medicinally, are brought from Germany. From the berries is made, 

 in Holland, the gin called Holland gin. 



KAMSIN. The name of a hot southerly wind, common in Egypt. 

 The wind is said to prevail more or less for fifty days, hence it is called 

 " the wind of fifty days." Travellers who have experienced the effect 

 of it have described it as a poisonous wind. When it begins to blow, 

 the atmosphere assumes an alarming appearance. The sky, at other 

 times so clear in this climate, becomes dark and, heavy ; the sun loses 

 its splendor, and appears of a violet color ; the air is not cloudy, but 

 gray and thick, and is filled with a dust so subtle, that it penetrates 

 everywhere. 



This wind, always light and rapid, is not at first remarkably hot, 

 but it increases in heat in proportion as it continues. All animated 

 bodies soon discover it by the change it produces in them. The lungs, 

 which a too rarified air no longer expands, are contracted, and become 

 painful. Respiration is short and difficult, the skin parched and dry, 

 and the body consumed by an internal heat. In vain is recourse had 

 to large draughts of water ; nothing can restore perspiration. In vain 

 is coolness sought for ; all bodies, in which it is usual to find it, deceive 

 the hand that touches them. Marble, iron, water, notwithstanding 

 the sun no longer appears, are hot. The streets are deserted, and the 

 dead silence of night reigns every where. The inhabitants of towns 

 and villages shut themselves up in their houses, and those of the desert 

 in their tents, or in wells dug in the eaith, where they wait the ter- 

 mination of this destructive heat. It usually lasts three days, but if 

 it exceeds that time it becomes^ supportable. The danger is most 

 imminent when it blows in squalls ; for then the rapidity of the wind 

 increases the heat to such a degree as to cause sudden death. This 

 heat is a real suffocation. The lungs, being empty, are convulsed, the 

 circulation is disordered, and the whole mass of blood driven by the 

 heat towards the head and breast; whence the haemorrhage at the 

 nose and mouth, which happens after death. 



KANGAROO. An animal of New South Wales, four or five feet 

 long, with a tail three, weighing one hundred and fifty pounds. Its 

 usual position is standing on its hind feet, its fore feet being employed 

 like th )se of the squirrel. It lives on vegetables, and instead of walb- 



