AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
55 
of a pin’s head. These were eight in number, on each 
side, and appeared in a straight line, when the animal was 
in motion. When the room was entirely dark, the light 
emitted from the worm was of a clear white hue, but by 
candle-light it was clear pea-green, similar to the phospho- 
rescence of the sea. The under side of the body was not 
in the least degree luminous. When it was touched with a 
little force it drew itself up in a kind of spiral form, like a 
cornu ammonis , and then the luminous bands seemed to 
radiate from a centre, and the bright spots formed a circle 
within them. The animal had six legs in front, and a kind 
of leg or support beneath the last articulation. The head 
could be withdrawn and projected from the body, some- 
thing in the manner of a land tortoise. It deserves the 
name of Lampyris Splendidissima. 
Near the window of my study, I noticed this morning a 
caterpillar climbing up a single web, which he had sus- 
pended from the branch of a tree; the thread was about ten 
feet long, and the insect was attached to the lower end of it. 
I at first thought it entangled in the web of a spider. On 
examination, I found that he must have attached the web or 
line himself to the projecting branch of the tree, perhaps for 
the purpose of descending during the night in search of food; 
and now as the morning advanced, he was returning to the 
tree to avoid his enemies. He clambered up the line with 
difficulty, and stopped to rest himself every foot or two of 
his ascent. He was an inch and a half long; was covered 
with yellow hair; had two black and broad filaments pro- 
jecting from the tail, and four from the head. 
September 2 7. Solidagos and asters, in all their varieties, 
adorn the fields and hedges. Winter potatoes gathered. 
Honey collected from the hives. 
The leaves of the Sumach, (rhus,) turn red mixed with 
brown. This I think is the first shrub which changes the 
colour of its leaves in the fall. 
I observed that the land tortoise, which I have in a pen, 
begins to burrow in the ground; he now remains a great 
part of his time in a hole I made for him under the earth, 
though during all the summer months he never could be 
induced to stay but a short time in it. 
28th. The leaves of the Maple begin to change co- 
lour. 
I neglected to mention, that on the 2Sth and 29th of Au- 
gust, all our Martins left us. If the second brood, (for 
they usually have two broods in a season,) is not fledged, 
or otherwise prepared to accompany them when the time of 
migration arrives, it is left behind in the nest. In cleaning 
the nest when they return the following spring, the dried 
carcases are thrown out. 
October I saw to-day what appeared to me the same 
species of butterfly, as that mentioned April 1st; if so, this 
insect, as the one mentioned May 4th, continues with us 
during the greater part of the year. 
Large numbers of orange-coloured and brown caterpillars 
were seen creeping along the fences, and upon the shrubs. 
Upon confining some of them in a box, they wrapped them- 
selves up in their cocoons. 
4 th. The elm and the black cherry tree begin to change 
the colour of their leaves, many of them dropping off. A 
caterpillar about three inches long, of a dusky brown co- 
lour, with oblique yellow bands on the side, and having a 
curved protuberance, something resembling a horn, placed 
near the tail, was observed on the corn. 
Catydids have ceased to chirp. I observed that these in- 
sects within ten days past, commence their chirping about 
one o’clock in the afternoon, though when they first ap- 
peared, they rarely began before sun-set. 
I hear no more the notes of our little Blue Bird, — he is 
the last songster in the fall, and the first in the spring. 
“ When all the gay scenes of the Summer are o’er, 
And Autumn slow enters, so silent and sallow; 
And millions of warblers that charmed us before 
Have fled in the train of the sun-seeking swallow — 
The Blue Bird forsaken, yet true to his home, 
Still lingers, and looks for a milder to-morrow, 
’Till forced by the horrors of Winter to roam, 
He sings his adieu in a lone note of sorrow.” Wilsojt. 
1 2th. Wild Geese begin to pass over this place on their 
flight to the south. This circumstance is considered by us 
a certain indication of approaching cold weather. The lakes 
which form our northern and western boundary, are the 
summer resort of the geese; and they remain there till 
driven away by the cold. 
13 th. The leaves of the common blackberry, (rubus 
occidentalis,) turn red. I observed that the leaves of a 
small buttonwood tree had changed to yellow, while those 
on a larger tree remained green. From this one might 
be led to conclude that large trees retain the colour of their 
leaves longer than small ones. The first change of this 
kind certainly takes place in small shrubs or herbs. 
A tortoise was seen crossing the path in the woods; from 
this I suppose that when at liberty, that animal does not 
retire for the winter so soon as when confined. (See 
Sept. 21th.) 
14 th. The leaves of the Athenian Poplar turn yellow; 
this tree was small. 
1 8th. We had a severe frost this evening; this, though 
not the first, is by far the heaviest. The observation on the 
Blue Bird made on the 9th instant, should be inserted here , 
as I heard one this morning. 
The Locust, (gleditsia,) turns yellow. There appears to 
be a great coincidence in the discolouration of the leaves of 
