NATURE'S CALENDAR 217 



OCTOBER 



Probably most of my readers would October i 



vote for October if they were asked to 

 choose the finest month of the American 

 circle of the year. The direct and blaz- 

 ing rays of the summer sun now slant 

 only warmly upon the earth, and the cool 

 nights bring refreshing slumber and put 

 an end to insect annoyances. This me- 

 dian temperature promotes steadiness of 

 weather, when lovely golden days and 

 clear nights are likely to follow one an- 

 other in pleasant regularity ; and yet no 

 one is disturbed by the drouth, for no 

 longer are growing fields or gardens in 

 need of quickening showers, and all are 

 confident that November will replenish 

 the springs preparatory to winter. 



Now, by a curious analogy, with the 

 daily glories of sunrise repeated at even- 

 ing in the sunset glow, the woods and 

 fields that have been green or sere 

 through midsummer put on colors as rich 

 and varied as were worn in the gayest 

 weeks of spring; only now it is not a 

 multitude of brilliant flowers that enrich 

 the landscape, but a greater and more ex- 

 tensive display of gaudy leaves. " The 

 increasing scarlet and yellow tints around 



