MONTHLY OBSERVATIONS. With a Catalogue of all really British APRIL. [1821. middle of the month, in small parties, and soon proceed to their accustomed haunts. Many of them, it is probable, perish in crossing the ocean; for they are frequently known to pitch on fishing-boats at a distance from land, being so much exhausted as to be incapable of proceeding further. Soon after their arrival, these birds proceed to prepare a nest for the accommodation of their offspring. The Swallow builds in vacant chimneys, about two or three feet from the top; the Martin forms its cabin beneath the eaves of houses, and the Sand Martin in holes on the banks of rivers. It has been supposed, that the Martin takes care to build its edifice only in the forepart of the day, and that the labour is intermitted in the afternoon, that it may acquire solidity and firmness. They have, however, been known to neglect a fine morning, and to commence their work in the afternoon, from no other apparent reason than that they preferred taking the materials from the sea-shore which was near, but which was covered with the tide in the morning, to fetching it from double the distance, where it might have been had at all times. The usefulness of these birds to human com THE general character of the weather in April is a continued disposition to change, from showers to sunshine, and from warmth to cold; and the transitions are both rapid and frequent. The morning often begins with hoar-frost, the forenoon experiences all the glow of summer, showers succeed in the afternoon, and before evening hail or snow conveys all the feelings of winter. But these feelings are not of long continuance; the earth is too much warmed by the rays of the sun to allow frost or snow to be permanent; and the progress of vegetation remains unchecked. The fields are clothed with cheerful green, except where Daisies or Buttercups vary the tints; hedges are studded with the modest Primrose, and the advancing shoots of trees afford assurance of the establishment of spring. Nor are leaves the only adorning of the trees; the blossoms of the Plum, Cherry, and Pear, unfold themselves, and the Apple blossom seems on the point of bursting into life. The Ash tree, however, has a singularly sombre appear-fort is rarely estimated as it deserves. ance, from the enlargement of its black leaf-bud, preparatory to the expansion of the leaves. The numbers of the insect tribe considerably increase; and they are particularly numerous and busy about pieces of water and running streams, whither resort in pursuit of them, those of the Swallow tribe that arrive this month. Four species of Swallows visit this island; the Swift, Hirundo Apus; Swallow, H. Rustica; Martin, H. Urbica; and Bank Martin, H. Riparia; all of which have the general habits of migration, and feeding on insects, which they take on the wing. The three first are common, the latter rare, being known in but a few counties in England. The arrival of the Swallow usually precedes that of the Martin by a few days; they drop in about the No. 26, VOL. III. Birds in general are known to devour more food than other animals, in proportion to their size; and those creatures which use most exertion stand in need of the greatest portion. What thousands of insects then must be devoured by these little creatures in the course of a summer, when they are so constantly engaged in the pursuit! these, if suffered to live and multiply, would break in very considerably on human enjoyment. The voice of the Whitethroat is again heard; and the Cuckoo arrives from Africa, where it has resided for nearly three-fourths of the year; its presence is soon recognized by its singular note. The manners of this bird, particularly as it regards the ordering of its young, have been much illustrated by the ob servations of Dr. Jenner, the well U 299 Monthly Observations. 300 known dicoverer of Vaccine Inocu- | is the only British species that conveys lation. The Cuckoo, the Doctor ob- poison by its bite; for the secretion and serves, does not pair. When a female injection of which into the wound made appears on the wing, she is often at- by the fangs, it is furnished with a petended by two or three males, which culiar apparatus. This consists of a seem to be earnestly contending for gland placed on the cheek at each side, her attention. When impregnated, she which secretes the poison, and from seeks out the nest of some other bird, which proceeds a duct that conveys it in which to deposit her egg; for it is well to the fangs, which are placed in the known, that the Cuckoo forms no nest upper jaw, and are crooked, like the for her own use. The Hedge-Sparrow, needle used by surgeons, sharp and Wagtail, or other small bird, is in dan- perforated, having an orifice at the exger of having its nest broke in upon; tremity. These fangs, which must be and these birds seem to be conscious of distinguished from the ordinary tusk, the danger; for a pair of Redbreasts are moveable in the jaw, and are athave been known to attack a Cuckoo tached to a membrane which tends to that seemed disposed to invade their strengthen their hold, and prevent nest, and drive it away. their being dislocated by the jerk of an animal that might be bitten by them. Still, when the Viper has not time to withdraw the fangs from the wound, it is not uncommon for them to be torn from their situation; to supply which loss, many imperfect fangs are seated in the jaw, in different stages of maturity; these come forward in their turns to supply the loss which the creature may meet with. When the Viper inflicts a bite, the fangs are driven into the wound by a muscle, which at the same time presses on the bag of poison, and drives it through the duct and tooth into the bottom of the wound, where it excites the most exquisite pain. This poison chiefly affects animals which have warm red blood in their vessels; the Snake and Viper are not injured by it, even when it is introduced into their wounds. This is not a place to enter into a discussion of the physical effects of the Adder's poison, or the requisite medical treatment; but it may be well to notice, that it is so much the more likely to prove fatal, the nearer the wound is to the heart. Tadpoles now undergo the change of figure which constitutes them perfect animals; the tail drops off, the legs make their appearance, and they can no longer be recognized as belonging to the same order of animals as before. Within a few hours after the egg which was deposited by the Cuckoo has given birth to a young bird, a strange scene takes place: the little creature, that seems scarcely able to move itself, sets about the task of securing the full occupation of the nest, and the entire care of its foster parents to itself; which it does by taking the young birds, with any egg that may remain unhatched, upon its back, and throwing them one by one over the side of the nest, where they are left to perish. By the extraordinary and undivided attention which the young Cuckoo now receives from the old birds, and which is continued when it has acquired its full size, so that the little parent is obliged to perch on its back to place the food in its bill; it is ready to leave the country at the same time with its real parents. The Nightingale is another of the feathered tribe that visits us about the same period. This is a solitary bird, that delights to pour forth its song at a time when the choristers of the day are silent; it is not, however, the only bird that sings by night, for the Woodlark will sometimes do the same. The Nightingale is not known in many counties in Eng land. The Serpent tribe now venture forth from their retreats, and bask in the sun, in order to recover that life and activity which have been so long suspended. Four species of serpents are known in Britain: the Viper, Snake, the New Snake of Pennant, which is the sharp-tailed Slowworm of Borlase, and the Common Slowworm. Worms and insects form the food of the latter; the two former devour mice and different species of reptiles. The Viper British plants, which flower in March: Water Starwort, Callitriche aquatica; Procumbent Speedwell, Veronica agrestis; Ivy-leaved Speedwell, V. hederifolia; Vernal Speedwell, V. verna; Lamb's Lettuce, Valeriana locusta; Three Cotton Grasses, Eriophorum Moor Grass, Sesleria coerulea; Blinks, Montia fontana; Umbelliferous Chickweed, Polycarpon tetraphyllum; Madwort, Asperugo procumbens; Common 301 Economy in Fuel.-Memoirs of Leonardo Aretino. Primrose, Primula vulgaris; Oxlip, P. elatior; Peigle, P. veris; Sowbread, Cyclamen europæum; Hairy Violet, Viola hirta; Marsh Violet, V. palustris; Dog's Violet, V. canina; Tasteless Mountain Currants, Ribes alpinum; Gooseberry, R. grossularia; Common Elm, Ulmus campestris & montana; Spring Gentian, Gentiana verna; Wild Chervil, Charophyllum sylvestre; Pale Narcissus, N. biflorus; Snake's Head, Fritillaria meleagris; Wild Tulip, Tulipa sylvestris; Yellow Star of Bethlehem, Ornithogalum luteum; Common Star of Bethlehem, O. umbellatum; Vernal Squill, Scilla verna; Hairy Field Rush, Juncus campestris; Great Bilberry, Vaccinium uliginosum; Knotgrass, Polygonum aviculare; Moschatell, Adoxa moschatellina; Purple Saxifrage, Saxifraga oppositifolia; Common Woodsorrel, Oxalis acetosella; Broad-leaved Mouse Ear, Cerastium vulgatum; Plum, Prunus domestica, & insititia; Pear, Pyrus communis; Wild Service, P. torminalis; Spring Cinquefoil, Potentilla verna; Pasque Flower, Anemone pulsatilla; Wood Anemone, A. nemorosa; Yellow Wood Anemone, A. ranunculoides; Blue Mountain Anemone, A. apennina; Three species of Ranunculus; Green Hellebore, H. viridis; Ground Pine, Ajugo chama pitys; Ground Ivy, Glechoma hederacea; Toothwort, Lathræa squamaria; Yellow Figwort, Scrophularia vernalis; Speedwell Cress, Draba muralis; Bastard Cress, Thlaspi perfoliatum; Coralwort, Dentaria bulbifera; Cuckoo Flower, Cardamine pratensis; Bitter Cress, C. amara; Winter Cress, Erysimum præcox; Thale Cress, Arabis thaliana; Turnep, Brassica rapa; Dove's Foot Geranium, G. molle; Bulbous Fumitory, Fumaria solida; Spring Vetch, Vicia lathyroides; Dandelion, Leontodon taraxicum; Tall Butterbur, Tussilago hybrida; Common Butterbur, T. petasites; Purple and Spider Orchis, D. mascula & ophrys aranifera; Five species of Carex; Common Birch, Betula alba; Box, Buxus sempervirens; Oak, Quercus robur & Q. sessiliflora; Beech, Fagus sylvatica; Dog's Mercury, Mercurialis perennis; Walnut, Juglans regia; Horse Chesnut, Æsculus hippocastanum. ECONOMY IN FUEL. In districts where fuel is both plentiful and cheap, the following article may 302 appear unworthy of much attention; but in places where it is both scarce and dear, every economical recommendation must be deemed of importance. In several parts of Wales, the inhabitants have long been in the habit of using what they call Fire-balls, instead of simple coals. These Fireballs are made by mixing together small coals, clay, and water, until the compound is brought to a certain consistence, when it is divided into balls, and reserved for use. Somewhat analogous to the preceding, is the following species of fuel, which we apprehend has been found to surpass the expectation of all who have tried it. We cannot vouch for its real excellencies from actual observation; but the compound being simple, and the articles within the reach of every one, and easily to be obtained, an experiment may be made without much ingenuity, trouble, or expense. Take one bushel, either of small coal or sawdust, or both mixed together, to which add two bushels of sand, and one bushel and a half of clay. Let these be all mixed well together with common water, until the mass appears in consistence like common mortar. When well mixed, take small quantities, and roll them into balls, or cast them into small moulds like bricks, then pile them in a convenient place, and when dry, they will be fit for use. A fire cannot be lighted with this compound, but when lighted, if these are placed behind, with a coal or two in front, they will be found to keep up a stronger heat than any fuel of the common kind.—Cottager's Monthly Visitor, No. I. MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE AND TIMES OF "I HAVE already informed you," says he in a second letter to his patron," of the contention in which I found myself unexpectedly and unwillingly involved on my arrival in this place. I now write to acquaint you with the sequel of the affair.-The Pontiff being, for the reasons which I formerly mentioned, doubtful what line of conduct he ought to pursue, deferred coming to any resolution, and neither rejected nor granted my suit. His uncertainty was daily increased by the artifices of my |