S06 Naturalists Monthiy Report. fApril J, 
Hieracium: denticularum. In the Flora Britannica, Dr. Smith gave this as the H.grenanthoides 
of Villars, which he now discovers from Dauphiny specimens, that it is not. It is bere 
observed that the difficulties relating to this genus are not yet all removed. We gratefully 
accept every illustration of ir, 1% 
Carex davaliiana. This too was considered by Dr. Smith, in his Flora Britannica, as a 
variety of C. divica; from which he now says itis abundantly distinguished by its tufted, not 
creeping, roo's, its rough stem, longer spikes, and long reflexed strongly-ribbed seed-covers, 
roughish only, not serrated, at the angles. 
Carex clendestina. A very small species, which has not yet been observed any where but 
abeut St. Vincent’s rock Bristol hot-wel!s, growing in very sunny spots. af 
NATURALIST’S MONTHLY REPORT, 
FEBRUARY. 
- Thawing-Month. 
Reviving nature seems again to breathe, 
As Joosened from the cold embrace of death. 
HE present has been, upon the whole, aseasonable month. We have had frost, snow, 
rain, andsome fine weather. The ist, 2d, and 3d, were extremely heavy and uncom- 
fortable days, the wind blowing from the south-west, and bringing along with it a continued 
drizzling rain. On the 5th, the wind changed to the north-east; and about noon of the 
following day the weather cleared up for a few hours. The whole of the 13th was squally, 
with occasional gleams of sunshine: the wind, which was south-west, was piercingly cold. 
The 14th wasa fine day; but inthe night the wind became easterly: and on the 15th we 
had a heavy fall of snow, which melted almost as soon as it was upon the ground. f The 
weather was very cold, but there was no frost until the ensuing night. The snow continued 
for three or four days ; and particularly on the 17th, it was detper than it is usually known to 
. be in the immediate neighbourhood of the sea-cozst. From the 18th almost to the end of 
the month, both the wind and weather were variable. The former on the 18th was westerly, 
on the 19th south-east, on the 20th and @ist easterly, on the 22d west, and on the 23d 
South-west. The frost continued till about the 24th. s ; 
February oth. The commonor green woodpecker (ficus viridis) makes its harsh cry ; and 
‘the woodlarks and blackbirds sing. 
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), Ivy-leaved veronica (Veronica hederdfolia) and barren straw- 
_ berry (Fragaria sterilis) are in flower. . 
February 8th. A great number of the seven-spotted-lady-bugs (Coccinella septempunctata) 
were this day remarked to be crawling about the shrubs in warm and sheltered gardens. 
These insects, which constitute the famous German remedy for the tooth-ach, collect toge- 
ther during the winter in numbers from ten or twelve to sometimes fifty or sixty ; and thus, 
in nearly a torpid state, endure, without injury, the utmost severity of the cold. Their — 
latve or grubs are extremely useful in destroying various kinds of aphides or plant lice, whichy 
in the spring of the year, infest our vegetables; and they are themselves great favorites in 
€very country where they are known. The different names by which they are called, are ~ 
Singular and unaccountable. Amongst the common people in several parts‘of Hampshire 
they have the denomination of God Almighty’s cows ; and in other parts of England of lady- 
bugs, lady-cows, and cow-ladies. In France they are called béte-a-dieu, vaehe-a-dieu, and 
bete-de la-vierge, ; 
3 On February 13th, the peacock butterfly, and brimstone butterfly, (papilio Fo, and 
papilio Reanzni) were beth observed in flight. ia ae 4 
The salmon which passed up the rivers in the autumn, in order to deposit their spawn, are 
_ How returning to the sea. wie. wae 
February 14th. The catkias of the hazel are putting forth their stamina. The yew-treey 
and procumbent speedwell, (weronica agrestis) arc in flower. 
‘February 19th. Rooxs, and several species of small birds, begin to pair The chaffiach 
sings. ; ag 
February 24th. The leaves of the common elder, garden-rose, and lilac, begin to appear 5 
and those of the cuckoo-pint (arwm maculatum) and cleavers, or goose-grass (galium apareze) 
are now out of the ground. : 
During the warm weather towards the end of the month, several of the early spring insects 
_ were seen crawling and flying about. 
A gentleman informed me, that he and one of his servants had been surprised at the ap 
pearance of a martin, which they observed in fight. This is earlier, by nearly two months, 
than the usual time of arrival of any of the species of hirundines, Be 
February 27th. The partridyes are beginning to pair. The king-doves coo; and domestic . 
pigeons have young ones. ae 
The gooseberry-trees are in flower; and the flower-buds of the Michaelmas peaches am6 
nearly ready to burst open. is 
Hamp shires 
ae | 
