nation augments the length of the day; but as he recedes from that point, such a change diminishes his duration above the horizon. On the other hand, an increase of latitude increases the length of the day, when the observer and the Sun are both on the same side of the equator; and diminishes it when they are on contrary sides of that circle. The preceding examples illustrate these general precepts.

The Naturalist's Diary

For MAY 1820.

And now the young and flow'ry-kirtled MAY
Decks the green hedge and dewy grass unshorn,
With cowslips pale and many a whitening thorn;
And now the SUN comes forth with level ray,
Gilding the high wood-top, and mountain gray;
And, as he climbs, the meadows'gins adorn ;
The rivers glisten to the dancing beam,

Th' awakened birds begin their amorous strain,
And hill and vale with joy and fragrance teeni.'

BAMPFYLde.

THIS month bright with sunshine, and fragrant with perfumes, covers the meadow with verdure and decks the gardens with all the mixtures of colorific radiance; a month from which the man of fancy draws new infusions of imagery, and the naturalist new scenes of observation. And yet there are some to whom these scenes are able to give no delight, and who hurry away from all the varieties of rural beauty, to lose their hours and divert their thoughts by a tavern dinner, the prattle or the politics of the day;or, to mix with a mass of people as insensible as themselves. Such is, with some exceptions, a LONDON MAY often,

Chilled by rude gales, while yet reluctant May
Withholds the beauties of the vernal day;
As some fond maid, whom matron frowns reprove,
Suspends the smile her heart devotes to love;
The season's pleasures too delay their hour,
And winter revels with protracted pow'r :

What prudent cit dares yet the season trust,
Bask in his whisky, and enjoy the dust?
Housed in Cheapside, scarce yet the gayer spark
Achieves the Sunday triumph of the PARK;
Scarce yet you see him, dreading to be late,
Scour the New-Road, and dash thro' Grosvenor-gate.
Anxious-and fearful too-his steed to show,
The hacked Bucephalus of Rotten-Row:
Careless he seems, yet vigilantly sly,
Wooes the stray glance of ladies passing by,
While his off-heel, insidiously aside,
Provokes the caper which he seems to chide.
Scarce rural Kensington due honour gains,
The vulgar verdure of her walk remains,
Where white-robed misses ramble two by two,
Nodding to booted beaux- How do? how do?
With gen'rous questions, that no answer wait,
"How vastly full!' A'n't you come vastly late?
Is n't it quite charming? When do you leave town?
A'n't you quite tired? Pray, can we set you down?"

The latest species of the summer birds of passage arrive about the beginning of this month. Among these are the goatsucker, or fern-owl (caprimulgus Europaus), the spotted fly-catcher (muscicapa grisola), and the sedge-bird (motacilla salicaria). In this and the following month, the dotterel is in season. See our last volume, p. 133.

The charming minstrels of nature, who pour forth such a concord of sweet sounds in this month, are well pourtrayed in Kleist's Vernal Season', as translated by Mr. Lloyd'. Although the scenery of this spring is sketched from the north of Germany, it may with little variation pass for that usually observed in Great Britain at this season.

In chorus full, ye feathered warblers, join
My soul to ravish with your notes divine!
Hark! they begin! to the symphonious sound,
The shadowing oak and lofty beech resound.
Soft floats the strain along the silent glade,
And well-pleased Echo lends her willing aid.
The piping bullfinch, and the linnet grey,
Pour from the alder top their varied lay.

See the whole Poem in the New Monthly Magazine, vol. xi,

N

The painted goldfinches delight to sport,
Hopping from shrub to shrub; and oft resort
Where in the hedge the downy thistle blooms;
Light flows their song, and varied as their plumes.
Concealed in shades obscure, in mournful strains,
The siskin of his cruel mate complains.

Perched on the lofty elm, with pow'rful throat,
The deep-toned blackbird tunes his cheerful note.
Far off retired in some sequestered dell,
Where chill despair and pining sorrow dwell,
Where veiled in thicker shade night shuddering fled,
When fair Aurora raised her dewy head,
The little nightingale, whose pride disdains
Th' unworthy contest, pours her rapturous strains.
Oft where beside the oziered pool's dark bed
The mournful willow hangs its drooping head,
When in the wind the waving branches play,
To call her mate she tunes her tender lay.
In thousand various tones, now soft and low,
Mildly she bids the gentle numbers flow.
Now, as his skill some wise musician tries,
In rapid wild transition bids them rise,
Till loud and deep, tho' full of sweetness still,
The silent vale and listening grove they fill.

The insect tribes continue to add to their numbers; among these may be named several kinds of moths and butterflies (papilio atalanta, cardamines, ægeria, lathonia, &c.)

To the BUTTERFLY.

Child of the sun! pursue thy rapturous flight,
Mingling with her thou lov'st in fields of light;
And, where the flowers of paradise unfold,
Quaff fragrant nectar from their cups of gold.
There shall thy wings, rich as an evening sky,
Expand and shut with silent ecstasy!

-Yet wert thou once a worm, a thing that crept
On the bare earth, then wrought a tomb and slept!
And such is man; soon from his cell of clay

To burst a seraph in the blaze of day!

Other insects now observed, are field crickets (gryllus campestris), the chaffer or may-bug (scarabæus melolontha), and the forest-fly (hippobosca equina), which so much annoys horses and cattle. The female wasp (vespa vulgaris) appears at the latter end of the month.

About this time, bees send forth their early swarms. Nothing can afford greater amusement than to watch the members of this industrious community in their daily journies from flower to flower.-See T.T. for 1816, p. 149; and for a list of trees, plants, and flowers, from which the bees extract their honey and wax, we refer to our volume for 1817, p. 149.

The speckled bees soft murmur thro' the air,
Explore the flowers and shrubs with nicest care;
And as they suck the nectar hang below,
Like drops of dew, that in the moonlight glow :
Then to their wicker dwelling eager haste,
In the warm corner of the garden placed.
So virtuous sages leave their native home,
In search of truth, thro' distant climes to roam;
Then back return with wisdom's precious spoil,
And give to us the produce of their toil.

KLEIST.

About the commencement of the month, the flowers of the lily of the valley (convallaria maialis) and the flowers of the chesnut tree (fagus castanea) begin to open; the tulip tree (liriodendron tulipfera) has its leaves quite out, and the flowers of the oak (quercus robur), the Scotch fir (pinus sylvestris), the honeysuckle, and the beech, are in full bloom. Towards the middle, the flowers of the white-thorn are quite out, and the mulberry tree (morus nigra) puts forth its leaves; the walnut (juglans regia) has its flowers in full bloom; the flowers of the garden rose also begin to open.

The ROSE.

O lovely rose, whose dewy leaflets blowing,
Are tended by the genial breath of morn,
And o'er whose breast, the early breezes borne,
Have left in crimson hue thy garments glowing:
The same kind hand that watches now thy growing
Shall lead thee soon a purer scene t' adorn,
Where, freed for ever from the galling thorn,
Thoul't bloom-alone thy fairer features showing.
Secure in loveliness that never dies—

Nor snow, nor hail, nor warring winds are there,

Nor changing seasons, nor inclement skies;
But, blooming safe beneath a kinder care,
Thou shalt in calm serenity arise,

For ever fragrant, and for ever fair.

METASTASIO.

The lilac (syringa vulgaris), the barberry (berberis vulgaris), and the maple (acer campestre), are now in flower, At the latter end of the month, rye (secale hybernum) is in ear; the mountain ash (sorbus aucuparia), laburnum (cytisus laburnum), the guelder rose (viburnum opulus), clover (trifolium pratense), columbines (aquilegia vulgaris), the alder (rhamnus frangula), the wild chervil (chorophyllium temulum), and the wayfaring tree, or wild guelderrose, have their flowers full blown. The germander (veronica chamaedrys) is seen in hedges, and various species of meadow grass are now in flower. Heart'sease (viola tricolor) shows its interesting little flower in corn fields. The butter-cup (ranunculus bulbosus) spreads over the meadows; the cole-seed (brassica napus) in corn fields, bryony (brionia dioica), the arum, or cuckoo-pint, in hedges, the Tartarian honeysuckle (lonicera tartarica), and the corchorus Japonica, now show their flowers.

The vegetable world is Thine',

Parent of SEASONS! who the pomp precede
That waits thy throne, as thro' thy vast domain,
- Annual, along the bright ecliptic road,
In world rejoicing state, it moves sublime.
Meantime, th' expecting nations, circled gay
With all the various tribes of foodful earth,
Implore thy bounty, or send grateful up

A common hymn: while, round thy beaming car,
High seen, the seasons led, in sprightly dance
Harmonious knit, the rosy-fingered hours,
The zephyrs floating loose, the timely rains,
Of bloom ethereal the light-footed dews,
And softened into joy the surly storms.
These in successive turn, with lavish hand,
Shower every beauty, every fragrance shower,

Herbs, flowers, and fruits; till, kindling at thy touch,

From land to land is flushed the vernal year.

Address to the Sun, in Thomson's Summer.