406 
Naturalist’s Monthly Report. (May }, 
232). per share.—-West Middlesex ditto, 1861, ditto,—Kent ditto, 451. per share premium. 
At the Office of Messrs. Wolfe and Co. Canal, Dock, ‘and Stock, Brokers, No. 9, "Change 
Alley, Cornhill. 
The average prices of Navigable Canal Property, Dock Stock, Fire-office Shares, &c. in 
April 1810, (to the 25th) at the Office of Mr. Seott, 28, New Bridge-street, London.— 
aaNet and Worcestershire Canal, dividing 40]. per share clear per annum,’ 7301. to 
$51.—Grand Jynction, 2501. to 2531. ‘Siidnimouthahive: 3I. per share half-yearly, 1421.— 
Swansey, 1101.—Leeds and Liverpool, 188].—Kennett and Avon, 48]. to 45). 10s.—Wilts 
and Berks, 53]. to 60l.—-Huddersfield, 411. 10s.—-Dudley, 481. 10s. Rochdale, 471.—-Peak “ 
Forest, 661.—Ellesmere, 801. —Lancaster, 2 26l.—Croydon, 481. 481.10s.—-Worcester and 
Birmingham New Shares, Sl. 10s. premium. East India _Dock Stock, 135. —London Dock, 
1501.—Commercial ditto, 901. premium, ex-dividend,—-Globe Assurance, 1281. to 13501. 
Thames and Medway, 421. to 441. premium.—-Ashby-de-la-Zouch, 221. 10s,—eStrand Bridge, 
21. per cent. discount, to 41. J 
NATURALISTS MONTHLY REPORT 
MARCH. 
Neglected now the early daisy lies, 
Nor thou, pale primrose, bloom’st the only prize, 
purine the greatest part of the present month the wind has been easterly. The un- 
usual check which vegetation hag sustained in consequence of this, is supposed to have 
been injurious to the wheat craps; and some of the farmers, in despair of their recovering 
the damage they have received, have been induced to plough them in. The 14th was a pe- 
culiarly cold and unpleasant duty; the wind blowing very fresh. From the 17th to the 22d, 
the weather was seasonable and fine; but from the 22d ta the 25th, the wind was extremely 
Piercing. On the 26th it changed from -east to west; in which quarter it chiefly continued _ 
till the end of the month. 
March 5. In warm and sheltered places the leaves of the bramble are beginning to ap- 
ear. The pilewort (ranuncu/lus ficaria) is in flower. 
March 9. The evening of this day was unusually pleasant. Redbreasts, larks, and 
thrushes, were singing in almost every quarter. The partridges also were calling to each 
other in the fields in no inconsiderable nymber. 
March 10. Ata meeting of the inhabitants of the place from-vhence this repoft is writ- 
ten, the churchwardens have received an order not only to give rewards for the destruction 
of sparrows, but to extend these rewards to all species of small birds. How ignorant are the 
generality of mankind of their own gond! This order includes no fewer than forty different 
kinds of birds which do not eat a single grain of corn, but which, in the course of the 
spring and summer, devour millions of insects, that would otherwise prove infinitely more 
injurious to the farmer than all the sparrows which haunt bis fields, were they ten times 
gnore numerous than they are. And even with respect to Sparrows, which are certainly in 
some measure injurious to the crops, were the farmer but seriously to reflect that the Al- 
mighty has not formed any race of beings whatever without giving to them an important 
destination, he would not probably be s0 anxious for their destruction, Jt has been satisfacto- 
yily ascertained that a single pair of common sparrows, while their young ones are in the 
pest, destroy on an average above three thousand caterpillars every week! At this rate, if all 
the species of small birds were to be extirpated, what would then become of the crops! 
March 14. he daffodil (warcissus pseudo-narcissus,) smaller periwinkle (vinca minor; 
sweet viclet, and dandelion, are in flower. = 
March 18. Several species of willows begin to put forth their catkins. 
March 20. The seven-spotted lady-bugs (coccinella septem -punctata,) are seen on almost 
all the hedge-banks which are exposed tg the sun. 
As I was this day walking along the side of 4-hedge, my attentiqn was called to a large 
Bin which was humming about a particular spot. J soon heard a rustling in the bottom of 
he hedge, at alittle distance, which at first I supposed might be occasioned by a lizard. > 
tanding debiaed still, a stoat ran along before me, For 2 moment it was startled by my 
presence, but hévidfesd” of that, it immediately afterwards made a dart towards the bee. 
W hethe? the gnimal mistook the noise made by the bee for that of a bird, or whether these 
quadrupeds (although they are known to dislike honey) may occasionally devour bees, as 
well as other insects, 1 am ignorant. 
+ March 21. The corn ‘/horse-tail (eguisetum arvense,) butter cups (ranunculus acris,) marsh 
marygold (¢altha palustris,) water purslane (montia fontana,) rue-leaved saxifrage ¢ saxie 
fraga tridactylites,) and primroses, are in flower. 
-March 25. We had, this day, a remarkably high tide, without any apparent cause ; and 
consequently expected a storm from cae south or south-west to oi (See the. Neveme for 
? er 
