142 
naturalists’ calendar. 
vented, and where the water is saturated with air, to which it has been exposed 
during its deposition from the clouds. * 
Insects. —Several species of butterflies and moths appear towards the end of 
the month, as the Small Copper Butterfly, (Lycaena Phlaeas) the Spring Usher 
Moth, (Anisopteryx leucophearia) &c. &c.; Bees also begin to leave their hives 
to collect honey. It is interesting to remark, that how far soever they may wan¬ 
der, (and a mile or two is not uucommon) they always find their way home : this 
has been by many supposed to be done by the insect’s memory, in retracing all 
its wanderings. Instead, however, of this tedious process, bees uniformly fly 
from great distances directly to the hive, as straight as a ball from a musket, and 
with extreme rapidity. But in departing from the hive upon an excursion, they, 
for the most part, begin by examining the flowers in their immediate neighbour¬ 
hood. f 
Solitary Bees. —Those who are desirous of witnessing the disclosure of some 
of the early solitary bees, should repair during a sunny morning to some warm 
sand bank, with a southern exposure, where they are almost certain of being 
gratified, with seeing some of these (Anthophora retusa, &c.) breaking through 
the clay walls, with which the mother bee had, the preceding season, so carefully 
enclosed them. £ 
Meteorology. —The atmosphere is supposed to extend to the altitude of 
about forty-five miles; if this be correct, a column of that length presses upon 
all bodies on the surface of the earth equally in every direction, and with a force 
or weight amounting to nearly 15 pounds upon every square inch. Variations in 
atmospheric pressure are continually taking place. The greatest degree of pres¬ 
sure appears to be exerted during the months of February and June, and the 
least during the three latter months of the year. These variations appear to 
furnish additional evidences of the aqueous origin of atmospheric air. § 
Evaporation. —The immense evaporation proceeding from the earth, even in 
the hottest seasons, supplies the air constantly with moisture ; and as every 
square foot of this element can sustain 11 grains of water, an abundant provi¬ 
sion is made for every demand. The continual escape of moisture from one 
body, and its imbibition by another, this unremitting motion and circulation of 
matter, are parts of that wonderful ordination, whereby the beneficence and wis¬ 
dom of providence are manifested; without the agency of evaporation, no vegeta¬ 
tion could exist, no animal life continue. || 
Sunshine. —It will be seen by the table given last month, page 94, that the 
average quantity of sunshine per month in 1832, was about 119 hours, or nearly 
four hours on an average each day. It is stated, page 95, that we had less sun 
during January this year than in that of 1832. However, after our Calendar 
went to press, we had a few pretty clear days, which quite turned the balance in 
favour of the present year, as will be seen by the following statement. 
1833. 
January .... 
Morning. 
12 h. 36 min. 
Afternoons. Total. 
21 h. 30 min. 34 hrs. 6 min. 
Aver. Daily. 
1 hour 6 min. 
Eight hours, fifty-two minutes, more sun in the afternoon, than morning, du 
ring the month. 
* Sir Humphry Davy. + Notes of a Naturalist. $ Notes of a Naturalist. 
? Domestic Gardeners’Manual. I! Journal of Nat. 
