f 
346 | Naturalist’s Monthly Report. [Oct. 1, 
Knapp’s opinion, that even the latter, and consequently all four, are not really distinct from 
F. duriuscula. ¢ : 
Rives Uva-crispa. ‘This is the smooth gooseberry, which has, by the first authorities, been 
considered asa distinct species from R. Grossularia, the hairy kind. The glandular footstalks, 
in the latter, and united bracteas in the former, supposed to distinguish this species, and even 
used as specific characters in the Flora Britannica, are now said to be evanescent, and futile 
and Dr. Smith acknowledges, that he has been misled by authorities. He has, however, in 
the Flora Britannica, expressed his doubts of the sdffiiciency of the characters. Mr. Robson, 
-by sowing the sceds, has proved the smoothness or roughness of the fruit to be variable; 
so that we may consider the Uwa-crispa, and grossularia, as mere accidental varieties. 
Poventilla rzpestris. Ray, in his Synopsis, says, that this plant grows on the sides of Craig 
Wreidhim,« mountain of Montgomeryshire, for which, in the third edition, Dillenius has ad- 
ded the authority of Mr. Lhwyd3 but. Dr. Smith has not heard, that it has been ever seen 
wild in this country by any one since. Revourse has consequently been obliged to be had tua 
garden specimen for the figure here given. 
Orchis Morio. Of the bulbs, or more properly tubers, of this plant, the salep of the shops is 
Supposed to be made. It is certain, however, that the roots of different species have been 
2pplitd to this purpose; and probably all of them, are nearly similar in virtue, and may be 
used indiscriminately. They afford_a mild nutritive diet; and were formerly in great repute 
23 a restorative, and imported in considerable quantities from the Levant. But the introduc- 
tion of sago, tapioca, and Indian arrow-root, has of late years nearly superseded the use of 
Salep. It is well however to point out, in a popular work, an innocent nutritious article that — 
in some places may be easily procured in very considerable quantities. We have often re+ 
gretted, that the very confined limits allowed for the text in the English Botany, afford no 
toom for such disquisitians. A well-instructed man might thrive and grow fat, where the ig- 
foraat would absolutely starve: ie 
NATURALIST’S MONTHLY. REPORY. 
AUGUST. 
Reaping Month. 
Soon as the morning trembles o’er the sky, 
And, unperceiv’d, unfolds the spreading day 5 
Before the ripen’d field the reapers stand 
In fair array. = 
TPOWARDS the commencement of the month the weather was by no means favourable for 
the approaching harvest. There were heavy gales on the 3d, 4th, and sth, accompanied 
with rain 3 and on these, and two or three subsequent days, it was unseasonably cold. We 
shad more or less rain with occasional squalls almost every day till the r6th. the afternoon 
and evening of which were peculiarly clear and fine. ‘The 17th was a fine day; but from 
thence tiil the 27th, the weather continued very unfavourable. The 28th and 29th were 
fine harvest days; and much of the corn which had been cut during the rain was housed 
without injury. ae 
August 2. The young partridges are yet unusually small and weak. In consequence of 
the wet season the broods have been greatly diminished. Many of the covies consist of very 
few birds; several of not more than four or five. ee 
In the evening of this day I observed, flying about the hedges, several individuals of the yel- 
low-tailed moth, Bombyx chrysorrbeeus of Haworth. One of these, which Lbrought home with 
me, deposited her eggs in the breeding box into which [ put her. The eggs of this insect, 
when deposited on the white thorn (on the leaves of which the caterpillers feed), are well 
concealed from observation, by being intermingled with a quantity of the yellow woolly sub- 
stance, which terminates the posterior part of the body of the parent moth. 4 
The following wild plants are in flower. Mellilot-trefoil (Trifolinm melilotus officinalis). 
Sharp-peinted snap-dragon (Antirrbinum elatine\. Round-leaved snap-dragon < Antirrhinum 
spurium). Miik-thistle (Carduus muranus). Large flowered willow-herb ( Epilobium hirsutum). 
Marsh willow-herb (Epilobium palustre)s White and yellow water lily (Nymph@a alba and 
lutea), and horehound ( Marrubium vulgare). 
August 6. Rye and oais are cut. Lhe wheat harvest commenced about six days after- 
wards. =, . ‘ 
Rooks begin to frequent their nest trees in-the evenings; but after continuing there a 
little while they always fly off before dark, in a direction towards the forest, where, it is sup- 
posed, they roost. he, a 
August 8. I have not myself observed any of the swifts for some days past,-and am in- 
clined to think that they have left us for this year. ' 
August 10. The wind continued, with litrle variation, south and south-west, from the ~ 
commencement of.the month till this day, when it became easterly. Towards the evening 
it was again west, and there was much rain, accompanied with thunder and lightning. The 
latter was peculiarly vivid. The storm continued from about eight o’clock in the evening, 
without | 
vA 
