INTRODUCTION. XXXI. 



frequently. The skies and particularly the sun- 

 sets at length get very beautiful. 



Natural History. — The grove is now silent, 

 the birds cease to sing, their nestling is over, and 

 young birds of all kinds are seen about. The 

 cuckoo, changed in his note, at length ceases to 

 sing, and soon after leaves us ; swifts migrate. 



As the season advances the leaves begin to be 

 tinged with yeUow. The corn now gets yellow, 

 and is reaped in this season, the sickle now taking 

 the place of the scythe which in last season was 

 every where heard : and to the new haystack of 

 summer are now added the cornricks of the early 

 Autumn. The fruits of this season are the most 

 delicious of the year, apricots, plums, peaches and 

 nectarines in succession, besides figs, melons, and 

 other foreign fruit, and towards the close, the 

 earlier sorts of grapes. 



The Flora of this period cannot boast of much 

 beauty, for after the Assumption of our Lady, the 

 beauty of earth is transferred to Heaven, the clouds 

 being dight with a thousand colours, and Aurora 

 wearing her most splendid wardi'obe, while in the 

 gardens, the African and French marigolds, China- 

 asters and other syngenesia are the principal 

 flowers. The fields bloom again with Autumnal 

 dandelions, and as the days draw in towards the 

 Autumnal Equinox, the Michaelmas daisies and 

 goldenrods flower. 



