335 
* 
IV.—NATURALIST S CALENDAR, 
FOR JANUARY. 
BOTANY. 
ThoDGH the most severe weather of the year commonly occurs in this month, yet vegetation 
begins a little to revive; and should the latter end of the month be mild, the Snowdrop, Ga- 
Idnthvs nivdlis, may be seen emerging from the ground; and in the garden the Winter Aconite, 
Erdnthis hyemahs, begins to show its golden blossoms.* The Christmas Rose, Helleborus mgcr, 
and the Laurustinus, Viburnum, tinus^ are also in flower. The Mezereon, D&phne Mezhreum, 
begins to open its buds. The Sweet Violet, V/ola adorbta, is now in bud, or in sheltered situ¬ 
ations, in flower. Several plants that have out-lived the early part of winter are still in flower, 
as Red and White Archangel, Ldmium purpHreumand album; Chickweed, Stelldriamkdia ; 
Groundsel, Sen^cio vulgdri; Annual Meadow-grass, Pda Annua; Furze, Ulex Europce'us; and 
Ivy.leav’d Toadflax, ..4«tirrAmam (yyjniaidriay these plants may truly be said to flower the 
whole year. 
The Mosses now in fructification, are Rigid Screw-moss, Tdrtula r'rgida; Early Moss, Afry'wOT 
pellucidum; Hygrometer Moss, Fundria hygromitrica; and Steraless Moss, Phdscum mu. 
ticum. 
The leaf buds of the Honeysuckle, Lonichra Periclym^num, begin to expand, and the catkins 
of the Hazel, Cory'lut Avellana^ to appear. 
ZOOLOGY. 
INSECTS.—A few Moths may occasionally be found, as the Bay-shoulder Button-Moth, Perd. 
nia spadicedna; the Early Moth, Cheiimtdbia rupicaprdria; these, with some species of Gnats, 
are almost the only winged insects which venture forth. A remarkable circumstance respecting 
insects, is the existence "of the autumnal brood of Caterpillars, upon a very scanty supply of 
food, and pometimes without any. In gardens, for example, the speckled and spotted (white, 
yellow, and black) Caterpillar of the Magpie or Currant Moth, Abraxas grossularidla, may 
be found on Gooseberry and Currant bushes, of which the more expanded buds only can afford 
them food; and yet they usually survive the hardest winters, though not advanced beyond the 
first or second skin, aim not so thick as a Crow-quill. The eggs, also, of many insects are de¬ 
posited in the autumn, and notwithstanding the severe cold of winter, survive, and are hatched 
m spring. An example of this is the Lacquey Moth, ClisiocAmpa uVemiria, which are laid in 
a spiral form round the twig of a tree, and fastened by means of a strong cement. + 
Many singular and minute insects may be found among Mosses and Lichens. 
BIRDS.—The observations on the winter migratory birds, last month, apply equally as well to 
this; but as the weather is now more severe, there is a greater probability of the rarer water- 
birds and sea-fowl being driven inland. 
The Missel Thrush, Ttirdus visc'tvorus, begins its monotonous song, and commences build¬ 
ing its nest. This is the earliest songster we have. The Redbreast, Sylvia rubicula, and the 
House Sparrow, FringjUa domesiica, frequently build this month. The greater Titmouse, or 
Black.cap, Purus major, and the Hedge Sparrow, Sylvia moduldris, sing. Larks, Alauda 
arvensis, are now seen in large docks. The Long-tailed Titmouse, Pdrus cauddtus, is seen 
in small flights visiting the trees in gardens and orchards; they proceed in one regular direc¬ 
tion, flitting from tree to tree, and in this manner pass over a large tract of country in a day. 
“ Some gardeners, who know no better, accuse many birds of destroying the buds of their 
trees at this season, because they are seen continually nibbling about them. The truth is, how¬ 
ever, that it is not the buds, but the insects frequenting them, of which the birds are in search. 
In the same way some birds search under the decayed bark of trees, amongst the straws of a 
thatched barn, or the moss on trees, for their favourite food.” J 
The Golden-crested Wren, Sylvia Jiegulus, the smallest of European birds, may now be 
frequently observed in thick hedges near houses. It summer it is seldom seen, as it then re¬ 
tires to more unfrequented places, and rarely approaches human habitations, except in severe 
weather. It is wonderful how so small and delicately formed a bird can enduie’ the rigours of 
winter; yet it seems to brave the cold quite as well as those apparently more hardyi perhaps 
the constant exercise which it uses in seeking for its food, may account for it. 
METEOROLOGY. 
BAttOMSTER.—Mean Height 20,881. Highest 30,540. Lowest 29,200 inches. 
Thermometer. —Mean Temperature 49,9 degrees. Highest 74. Lowest 29 degrees. 
Rain. —Mean quantity 1,786 inches. 
Evaporation. —Mean 2,290 inches. 
* In January, 1828, the following plants were in flower here in th e open ground; Double and Single Snow 
drijp; Scotch, Yellow and Black-streaked Yellow Crocuses ; Double Lilac, Single Red and Common Prim¬ 
roses ; Polyanthuses; Arabis alpina; Blue Navelwort, {Oviphalodes werno;) Winter Aconite; Double 
Redliepatica; Laurestinus; Mezereon; Daisies; Crowfoot; and Archangel. 
+ Comp. Aim. t Comp, Aim. 
Duffield-Bank, Dee. 1831. 
O. J. 
