3S2 
I v.— NATURALIST S CALENDAR, 
FOR FEBRUARV. 
BOTANY. 
The delightful labours of the Botanist, (if labours they may be called) have now aa;ain com- 
menced, and for many months to come, be will I'md full occupation for t!ie powers of his mind, 
in examining; and arranging the various anil almost endless varietj of vegetable productions, by 
which be will be surrounded. 
Tliouffh the ascertainin<;' of the Genera and Pp^cies of Plants, must be considered an essential 
part of the study of Botany ; yet it is not to be pursued as tiie end of the Science, but merely 
as a means of acquiring a knowlod'^e oi Iheir structure, properties, and uses. The attaining- of 
this kuowlertae, should be the chief object of the student; — he should not content himself with 
merely examining- their external characters, but should minutely investigate the internal ar- 
rangement of their parts He s'loiiid also, as far as possible, make himself acquainted with 
their virtues, and the uses to which tiiey can be appjied ; and indeed, no part of their natural 
history, should be neglected. 
The manner in which the leaves are folded in the bud, (Vernation, or Gemmation,) and 
that in which the Petals and Calyx are Ibl led in the flower-bud, (^Estivation, or Pkmvlo- 
RATION,) will form an interesting- branch of his study. 
He may, even at this early period of the year, find examples for all the grand divisions of 
Vegetables, as follows-. — 
f f f Tbalamiflorie. i>o;'/U/rt, &c. 
I j Dicblamydea;.< Calycidorie, Leontudon,Uleii:,&.c 
Dicotyledones, j ( Coro'liflora;. I'eron'ica. 
I or -{ MonochlaraydeEe. . . . . Viiphne. 
VASCULARES. ■{ Exo^encs. 1 f .. .. Sulix, CoryHuS, 
II Achlamydeae. i Pdpulus. 
[^ I Couifera;. Tiixus. 
IVIonocotyledones, j Petaloidea?, Gfd'i nthus . 
[_ or Endogeues, ( Glumaceie. Poii. 
rpi I III ABFS J Foliace*. Polytrichum, &c. 
LCI.LULARbb. ^ ji^,,|,yi,a._ Various sjjeeies of Lichens and Pungi. 
TJiis Table, it is hoped, may be useful to those who are commencing the study of the Na,tural 
System of Plants; as they will have an opportunity of comparing the principal divisions of 
that arrangement 
This month is naturally the commencement of Spring ; the more hardy plants begin to put 
forth buds and flowers. The Snowdrop, Galdntkus nivalis is now in full beauty; and the 
fertile-blossoms of the Hazel, Conflus civellana, appear like small crimson stars, on the sum. 
mits of the buds. The structure of this flower is well worth attention. 
The diminutive Witlow-cress, Erifhila vulgaris, {Drctba vtrna, Lin.) is frequently to be 
found in flower this month, and makes a very pretty appearance on old walls. The Whin, 
Furze, or Gor.se, U'lez europa^'us; Mezereon, Daphne Afezereum; Tield Speedwell, fcronicn 
agi'stis; Dandelion, Leontodon Taraxacum; and the Common Daisy, lirllis perennis; may 
frequently be found in flower this month. The first of these, is proverbial for flowering- the 
whole year. 
The fertile catkins of the Alder, Alnus glutindsa; the flowers of the Yew, TAxus baccata; 
and the catkins of many species of Willow, [Sidix) and Poplar, {Pupulus) begin to show 
themselves. The leaf-buds of the Elder, Sambncus n'lger; Gooseberry, Jtihes Grossulciria; 
and some species of the Rose, &c. begin to unfold their leaf-buds. 
Many Mosses are now in jierfection, as Heath Moss, or Moor-silk, Pojijtrichum commune; — 
this sometimes grows to a considerable length, and was formerly used in some parts of Derby- 
shire, for making brooms for sweeping carpets, &c. Lesser Water-Moss, Funtinnlis minor; 
Greater Water-Moss, Fontincdis aniinyrftica, Field Griramia, Grimmia controtfrsa; and 
Dwarf.Broom-Moss, Dicronum pusillum. 
ZOOLOGY. 
INSECTS. — Insects, like plants, begin to feel the influence of Spring, and many are now to 
be found in their usual haunts. The Ditch Beetle, HydrJphilus carahoides, and the Lurid 
Pool Beetle, Berdsvs l/'tridus; maj' be found in ponds, ditches, and stagnant waters. The 
Dark Carrion Beetle, Silpha opdca, on decaying- animal substances, and under the rotting bark 
of trees. The Bacon Beetle, Verm'sles larailrius, — the insects of tliis genus are very desti-uc- 
tive in collections of Natural History, as they feed on skins, furs, and other dried animal 
substances. 
The Brimstone Butterfly, Goncpteryx rhamni, is usually found from April to June, though 
sometimes, when produced in the autumn, it lives through the winter, and is met with in this 
month. In the same manner, the peacock Butterfly, I'anessa iV, and the Painted Lady 
Butterfly, V.cdrdui; having lain torpid during the wi.oter, revive earlier or later in the spring, 
according to the tempera tuie of the atmosphere. The Moths uow to be found, are the Pale 
Chequered Brown, Capillariatcsserella ; the Clouded Lead, and liosy Day, l)i.\rnca torfri- 
c'lla, and salicHla; the Small Eggcr, Eriogaster lanrntris; tlie February Carpet, Aphc>r<' 
ciesinia; the Orange Upper-Wing, Xantkiacroceago; tne^Small Brindled Beauty, tlmplti- 
Jasis hispiduria; the Spring Li^slier, AnisSpteryx leucoplteuTia; and the Dark-bordered Usher, 
^. leucophci'ria, var. nigricihiu. 
The Hive Bee, A pis mcUifica, leaves its hive in search of hon-y, in the feiv flowers which 
are now to be (ound. 
