1810.] [er 
NATURALISTS MONTHLY REPORT, 
JUNE. 
| Flowering Month. 
: High climbs the sun, and darts his powerful rays 5 
Whitens the fresh-drawn mould, and pierces through 
The cumb’rous clods that tumble round the plough. 
"THE wind was easterly onthe ist, 2d, 3d, 5th; 6th, 7th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 23d, 24th, 27th, 
and 29th; westerly on the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 2ist, 22d, 
28th, and 30th 5 and on the other days variable, particulariy the 4th, 8th. and 17th, when if 
passed entirely round the compass, 
We hae strong gales on the Sth and 21st; the former from east-north-east, and the latter 
from north-west. ‘ 
The same dry weather which we experienced during the month of May, has continued 
through the greatest part of the present month, Nearly all the rain which has fallen, was on 
the 1$ch and 28th: ‘he hottest days were the 22d and 24th. : 
Junei1. The cuckoo-spit insect, or froth-worm, as it is called in some places, is now to be 
seen on the shrubs and grass. This is the larva or grub of the cicada spumaria of Linneus. 
Jt is really surprising that so small an insect should be able toemit from the pores of its bod¥ 
80 great a quantity of froth. Inthe midst of this it undergoes its _ until it issues forth 
in a winged state. 
The following wild herbaceous plants are in flower :—Meadow pink (/ychuis flos cuculi), foxe- 
glove (digitalis purpurea), common broomrape (orebanche major), corn woundwort (stachys ar= 
wensis), \ong-stalked crane’s-bill (geranium columbinum), great daisy or ox-eye (chrysanthemunt, 
leucanthemum), mouse-ear scorpion-grass (myosotis arvensis), and hound’s tongue (cynoglossum 
officinalis). 
The last-named plant I have lately seen recommended in some of the periodical publica- 
tions as an eflicacious means of driving away rats; this I am inclined to believe is more than 
doubtful. Its smell is very unpleasant, and much like that of a place which is frequeated by 
mice. 
June 2, The eggs of silk-worms begin to hatch. 
June 5. A mole-cricket, which was brought to me some days ago, I have since kent in a 
box partly filled with earth. It lives upon caterpillars; and although it occasionally gnaws 
some of the roots which I put into the box, it does not appear to eat them. 
June 8. The rose chater (scarabius auratus), and the humming-bird hawk-moth (sphing 
stellatarum), are now both seen in flower gardens. 
June 12. In some of the seine nets were brought ashore this evening a considerable num- 
ber of mackarel, On several following eveningsthe fishermen were still more successful; andon 
the 16th, a greater quantity was caught than has been known for many years past. It is said 
that one boat had as many as 120,000. The price on the spot to those (persons who purchased 
them for sale, was half-a-guinea per thousand. The poor people were allowed to take away, 
without payment, alinost as many asthey wanted for theirown consumption 3 and on the even- 
ing of the next day, some of the fish that were now caught were so!d as low asa Farthing per 
dozen. All the meckarel which are taken on this coast are small, and evidently young fish: 
I have seldom heard of any which contained spawn. ; 
June 16. The caterpillars of tne satin most (Bombyx salicinus of Haworth), begin to spin 
their follicle. They continue.in a chrysalid state about nineteen days, 
There were twenty salmon caught on the first, and eighteen on the second, of this month. 
‘Lhe white and yeilow water lilies (nymphea alba and lutea), are both in flower; as is likee 
wise the flowering rush (dutomus umbellatus). 
1 was shewn, in one of the holes made for a scaftold- pole in a house which is building bya 
nobleman in this neighbourhood, the nest of a red-breast, which contained young ones nearly 
halrgrown, Respecting this nesz it is a singular circumstance, that although che workmen 
were NUmerous, ani, during the day time, o. course constantly employed; and, altnoush the 
birds had been compelled to icave a hole in the same building’in which they bad formed a 
preceding nest, yet they seemed determined not to be driven away by the presence of man- 
kind, ‘Lhe female, during her incubation, was perfectly undisturbed by the brickiayers, who 
were frequently at work cluse to her, and by whom the nest was sometimes unintentionally 
splashed with the mortar, The workmen give the young birds as little disturbance as pos- 
sible; and there can be no doubt but they will soon be able to escape the dangers of so exposed 
@ 3.tualion. 
June 25. The stag beetles (/ueanus cervus) fly abeut in the evenings, 
June 30. Very few macharel have been caught since the 16th. 
 Hampskire. 
Mentary Maa, No, 209. N MONTHLY 
