ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENTS. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Page. 



Natural history of seasons two classes of naturalists instinct 

 and reason their radical distinctions necessity of studying 

 the seasons 115 



PART FIRST. THE YEAR. 



The year a natural period, and its changes marked by all nature 

 mass and motion of the earth orbit and axis, their effects 

 unmeasurable extent of creation changes of the distances of 

 the two poles from the sun the beautiful results charm even 

 of winter variable rate of change, and the results annual 

 motion of the point of greatest solar action dependence of all 

 nature upon the sun difference of the seasons in the two 

 hemispheres height of the curve of congelation that regulates 

 the productions, but partly depends on the nature of the surface 

 annual solar action sunbeams moonbeams the tides of the 

 ocean their modifications tides and currents of the atmos- 

 phere influence of heat freezing and thawing evaporation 

 vapour combustion odours and colours winds signs and 

 formation of rain false interpretation of signs advantages of 

 the study of nature . 16 89 



PART SECOND.- -SPRING. 



Characters of its first coming momentary revival leafless trees 

 their stability life of buds life sheltered by plants winter 

 wind the wind of spring its effects the melting of the snows 

 freshness of the new soil the first flower the field the 

 matin song of the year the skylark compared with the night- 

 ingale habits and nest of skylark song and silence of the 

 lark the woodlark loves of birds nest and habits of the 

 woodlark the pipits the sea pipit the tree pipit the titling 

 the cuckoo danger of mere authority in natural history 

 exemplified in the swallows probably in the cuckoo some 

 things alleged of that bird want proof description of the 

 cuckoo difficulties of studying the habits of the cuckoo reci- 



