CALENDAR, 1811-1812. 363 



of the trains of light left behind the numerous Falling Stars 

 Avhich we observed. They are common in August. 

 Hth Four Herons noticed at Walthamstow. 

 12th. M . Sadler ascended in an air balloon from Hackney, 

 arid ha vine: got into a N. W. Wind, was carried towards the 

 Thames, and descended near Tilbury Fort. 



13th. Apples seein abundant this year, as are also Apri- 

 cots. Mellons are large but of bad flavour. 



29th. Sadler's balloon descended near Kelvedon, having 

 mounted from Hackney. During this month my brother con- 

 structed and sent up a great number of small fire balloons, 

 by observing which I ascertained by various circumstances 

 otherwhere noticed, that the changes of wind begin first in 

 the higher regions of the air. 



SEP. 1st. About four this morning my father entered my 

 chamber, and said he observed something like a Comet in the 

 North. I immediately got a telescope, when we both dis- 

 tinctly ascertained it to be one, and that it was in Asterion. 

 This Comet became a brilliant spectacle during the remainder 

 of the month. 



10th. Cactus Jamaicensis flowers in the garden. 

 OCT. 8th. Congregations of Swallows and of Martins. 

 * 1812. JAN. 27th. A coloured Lunar Halo appeared. 

 FEB. 6th. The Slugs begin to crawl. The Thrush sings. 

 7th. The Snowdrop in flower at Walthamstow. 

 16th. The Crocus in flower. Snowdrops abundant. I 

 heard the vernal sound of Frogs croaking in a pond by the 

 side of the Lea Bridge Road. 



22d. A Thundershower with Hail to-day. 

 26th. The proverb of " February fill dyke" is made good 

 this year. The marshes of the Lea are quite flooded, and all 

 the ditches stream with water. 



