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naturalists’ calendar. 
II. NATURALISTS’ CALENDAR, 
OR OBSERVATIONS ON NATURE FOR MAY. 
This is a beautiful month for flowers, amongst which we have selected the 
Siu&pis nigra (fig. 28, 1) it is common in corn fields where the mould is pretty 
rich, the flowers are yellow. By every road side, where the soil is not very strong 
or clayey, may be found the Wild Chamomile (Matricaria Chamomilla) (2) it has 
white flowers resembling the medicinal Chamomile (Anthemis) but may easily be 
distinguished from it. Those of our readers who live near sandy heaths, may 
collect towards the end, the purple Milk Vetch (Astragalus hypoglottis) (3) from 
one or more of the species of this genus the gum Tragacanth is extracted; A. 
verus is generally supposed to be the chief plant, it is a native of Persia; the 
gum exudes in summer more or less copiously, according to the heat of the 
weather, in tortuous filaments which are allowed to dry on the plant before being 
collected. A large portion of Tragacanth, collected in Persia, is sent to India, 
- . 28 
Bagdad, Bassorah, and Russia, but what we receive is sent to Aleppo, from 
whence it is exported, packed in cases. In damp low woods, the Wood Cow 
Wheat (Melampyrum syvaticum) (4) may be gathered in flower about the end, 
the flowers are yellow. 
Molluscous Animals.— -In stagnant waters may be collected, a horn coloured 
shell, about half an inch diameter, rather transparent, often covered with a 
brownish coat, it is the Flanorbis corneus (6) the shell is of a rusty brown colour 
