AUGUST. 221 



large weasel, and darting on with the rapidity 

 of an arrow, attempted to make its way into 

 the burrow, in which, no doubt, were the rab- 

 bit's young ones. The rabbit, with an air of 

 the utmost sany-froid, raising itself as the weasel 

 approached, received him with several smart 

 thumps upon the head. He fled back, but 

 speedily renewed the attack, and was received 

 in the same style. The assault, battery, and 

 retreat were maintained for at least a quarter 

 of an hour, when the weasel crawled away ap- 

 parently exhausted and appeared no more. 

 Such is the valour infused by parental instinct 

 into the most weak and timid creatures. 



During this month swarms of young frogs 

 released from the tadpole state of existence in 

 ditches and pools, are hopping across your path, 

 and in the evening numbers of the large black 

 beetle (geotrupus stercorarius) fly humming 

 and striking against you, often in your face. 

 After rains mushrooms are to be found in 

 abundance in old pastures. 



Those singular appearances in the grass com- 

 monly called Fairy Rings, are never more 

 conspicuous than in the autumn months. Even 

 when all other grass is brown, they exhibit a 

 well-defined and bright green circle. The pio- 

 duction of these remarkable circles, and the 

 property which they possess of every year be- 



