AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
9 
Gnaphalium Plantagenium flowers, and also a species of 
Myosotis. 
30th. Young chickens leave the egg. 
The Swallow, (hirundo Americana,) in numbers, and also 
the Goldfinch. Both of these birds, I suppose, appear 
much earlier, but my situation prevented me from seeing 
them before. 
May 4 th. The small Yellow Butterfly , (papilio he- 
cube?) which expands its wings about an inch and a quar- 
ter, and which is seen during the summer months playing 
about wet, muddy spots along the road-side, was seen. 
The small moscheto seen. 
5th. Viola Pubescens Acton, or Pennsylvanica Mich. 
in flower. 
5th. Young Ducks hatched. 
10 th. Wrens build their nests, (silvia domestica.) Night 
Hawk, (caprimulgus Americanus,) appears. Chimney 
Swallows, (hirundo pelasgia,) build their nests. 
1 1 th. The white nocturnal Moths, called Millers, which 
expand their wings about one quarter of an inch, appeared. 
14 th. The Blue Bird builds its nest. The female only, 
as far as I observed, was employed. The male bird 
guarded the box, and sang to her during her work. They 
did not sleep in their new habitation, the two first nights 
it was in their possession, for on the third day, after much 
labour, they apparently abandoned it. 
15 th. The Cat Bird, (T. Lividus,) appears. This bird 
rarely uses the note from whence it has its name, on its 
first coming, but two or three other notes of the softest 
melody. 
The Blue Flag,( iris,) the Snowball Tree, (vibernum,) 
and the Peony, (paeonia,) in flower. 
1 6th. The Chewenk, or Towhe Bunting, (emberiza, 
erythrophthalma,) is on the trees; it has a charming song. 
I observed a large number of Ants resorted to, and 
covered the buds of the Peony, probably for food; but 
when the flower is fully blown, they forsake it. 
Vaccinium Corymbosum, Geranium Maculatum, and 
Podophyllum Peltatum, or May Apple, in flowers. 
Ring Dove , coos. Grey Owls, hoot. Goldfinches 
pair. Quere, how long does this take place, before the 
business of nidification is commenced? 
17 th. The orange-brown Moth, or Butterfly, which ex- 
pands its wings about an inch, which are covered with 
black spots, appeared. 
Caltha Palustus, in blossom. 
Azalea Viscosa, a variety of this plant blossoms. 
Rhaphanus Rhaphanistrus, or wild radish, flowers. 
Early Peas flower, being forty-six days after they were 
planted. 
18 th. The May Rose blooms. 
C 
The Blue Birds have returned to their box. I suspect 
they never intended to leave it entirely; but that they 
always absent themselves some hours after their njest is 
completed; though I observed, that nothing but straw and 
small sticks were used, which could not require dry- 
ing. The male and female always come together, though 
the male now frequently leaves the other in the box, fly- 
ing off to some neighbouring tree. This he never did, 
while the nest was constructing; then he always called to 
her while she was at work, and she answered him with a 
short, plaintive note, which now she seems to have forgot- 
ten. To-day, I think, she has deposited her first egg. They 
visit the box but rarely in the course of the day, but at least 
once early in the morning, and again as the sun is setting; 
though I suspect they are all the day on the surrounding 
trees. 
20 th. The Mocking Bird, (T. Polyglottus,) sings. 
This evening, just as the sun had gone down, this charm- 
ing warbler made the woods to echo with his various notes. 
I listened to him about a quarter of an hour, and then left 
him singing. 
May 21st. The seventeen year Locust, (cicada septem- 
decima,) appears. It rises from the ground a kind of ap- 
terous beetle. After leaving the shell of its chrysalis 
state, it is about twenty-four hours before it has sufficient 
strength to fly, and then about five days before it sings. 
23 d. Strawberries ripe. 
24 th. Saw the Toad, (bufo musicus,) for the first time. 
The large Butterfly , (bombyx luna,) the handsomest 
species of this insect in this part of the country, breaks its 
winter case. A branch which supported this insect and 
its cocoon, was broken from an apple tree last fall, and sus- 
pended in the kitchen. 
Oyster Plant, (tragopodon,) flowers; the calyx of the 
plant closes over the petals just before sundown; it never 
fully expands but in the sunshine. 
21th. Mock Orange, (Philadelphus odorus,) flowers. 
Blue Birds hatch their first broods. 
315/. May Weed, (anthemis cotula,) flowers. The 
full white blossom of this weed may be seen in uncul- 
tivated fields, and along the road sides, till the end of 
autumn. 
June 3d. The Locusts, which have been kept in the 
ground, by reason of the cold and rainy weather. (Ther- 
mometer, between 40° and 50°, the whole time) now ap- 
pear in vast numbers. 
5th. The Robin, (turdus migratorius,) sits. Black- 
berry, (rubus occidentalis,) blossoms. The Mallow, 
(malva,) flowers. 
The pea-green Caterpillar, which appears about this 
time, presented me with a curious fact. I fastened one of 
