AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 7 
Natural History, and when I had but little intercourse 
with the scientific world. It was made for my own amuse- 
ment, and wasnever intended for the public eye. As you 
think it contains some curious facts, and that it is calculated 
to elicit a spirit of observation in the youthful naturalist, 
I have consented to its publication in the original form, 
little or no alteration being made in the manuscript. 
Yours truly, 
J. G, 
Philada. Dee. 1st, 1831. 
NOTES OF A NATURALIST. 
By Jacos Green, M. D. 
A correct tabular view, in which is recorded the leaf- 
ing and flowering of plants, the arrival and incubation of 
birds, and several other common occurrences of nature, 
as they successively arise, cannot fail to be a source of 
rational entertainment. Several attempts of this sort have 
been made by naturalists, both in ancient and modern 
times. In the works of Aristotle and Theophrastus, 
something of this kind may be found. Pliny, in his Na- 
tural History, remarks, (liber 16. 25,) ‘‘ With the first 
soft breeze the cornelian cherry puts forth its bud, next 
the bay, a little before the equinox. The lime, the ma- 
ple, the poplar, the elm, the sallow, the elder, the jfilbert, 
and the hazel, are among the first that put out leaves; the 
plum tree also is very early.”” Thus we see from this 
attentive observer, of other times, that trees were governed 
by certain fixed laws, with regard to their time of leafing, 
and that when one species of tree was seen to be in foliage, 
the next in succession could be easily predicted. 
Calendars of a similar sort may be found in White’s 
highly interesting History of Selborne, in England, and in 
several periodical works published in the United States. 
In recording the numerous facts as they arise, I shall in- 
dulge in any zoological or other remarks, which may 
occur. Since my notes were completed, I find that Dr. 
Bigelow of Boston, has issued a circular, in which he re- 
quests the naturalists of the United States to keep such a 
record during the spring of 1817, in order that contempora- 
neous observations of the same facts, in different places, may 
afford materials for a general American Calendar of Flora. 
Naturalist’s Calendar, kept at Princeton, N. J., in 1817, 
by Jacop Green, M. D. Professor of Chemistry, 
Experimental Philosophy, and Natural History, in 
Nassau Hall. 
January. The deep snow which has covered the ground 
for some days, obliges the common Crow, (corvus corone,) 
to leave their usual haunts. They flock around stacks of 
grain, and visit our barn-yards in search of food. 
Larks, (alauda magna?) are now easily shot. They 
frequent fields where the weeds are so tall as not to be 
covered with snow, and hover around their tops, for the 
seed; they are exceedingly fat. A Golden-eyed Duck, 
(anas clangula,) was noticed in the water, in company 
with a flock of tame ducks; it was killed, and a pike, 
(esox,) about four inches long, was found in its throat. 
March 9th. Lamium amplexicaule, in bloom. The 
bright red flowers of this little plant, are in beautiful con- 
trast with the snow which is still in many places on the 
ground. 
10¢h. The trees exhibit but few marks of vegetation. 
The Lombardy Poplar, (populus dilatata?) on being cut 
down, exuded no sap. 
15th. The Smelt, or snow-fish, (salmo eparlanus) taken 
in the Raritan river, near New-Brunswick. 
18th. This morning I heard for the first time the plain- 
tive note of the Blue Bird, (silvia sialis. ) 
19¢h. A more violent snow-storm than any during the 
last winter. 
21st. The Yellow Bird, (fringilla tristis,) seen. 
birds numerous. 
24th. Robins in the orchards. Many of these birds 
pass the whole winter in the bushy marshes of this neigh- 
bourhood, where the water rarely freezes. 
25th. Heard the Aédideer (charadrius vociferus. ) 
30th. Frogs begin to croak (rana zebra?) In the shal- 
low streams salamanders are numerous (sal. rubriventris, 
var. ) 
4pril 1. I noticed this morning the brownish butterfly, 
called Papilio Antiopa, skimming along the wet places, 
near the road-side. The snow was still visible in many 
places in the woods, and on the hills. Pliny remarks, 
that the appearance of the butterfly is supposed by many 
the surest indication of returning spring, because the ani- 
mal is too delicate to support severe changes in the wea-~ 
ther. The Papilio Antiopa, is thought by many to ex- 
ceed most of the papilios in beauty, but as it appears ear- 
lier in the season than any other butterfly, it is probably 
owing to this circumstance that it is so much admired. 
Its glossy brown wings, edged with white, and spotted 
with blue, are certainly pretty. Our good and great orni- 
thologist, Wixson, alludes to it in the following line, 
“ When first the lone butterfly flits on the wing.”’ 
2d. Common flies, (museca domestica,) seen in great 
numbers. Earth worms perforate the surface of the soil. 
3d. Cabbage seed, and early peas sown. 
4th. Potatoes, beets, and onions planted. 
5th. Shepherd’s Pouch, (thlaspi,) in flowers, and the 
Blue 
