cation-Druids of Gaul-Ancient and modern virtues-Dyers' weed- value-uses-cultivation-yellow color-most permanent and common -Brimstone butterfly-Day's eye-Dandelion-Singular appearance of a grass-Brambles-insect path on the leaves-uses of the bramble-Maple tree-an early autumn beau-fashion followed by others-maple wood a beautiful microscopic object-medicinal properties-leaves punctured by insects-Traveller's joy-grows in limestone soils by preference-uses- pores of the wood in the microscope-Vessels of plants-uninjured by dry Naturalist's autumnal walk-beautiful, and full of variety Agaric- beauty and variety-plentiful in Monmouthshire-Agaricus fimi putris- Verdigris agaric-Fungi very uncertain in their growth-Flower-formed hydnum-Mitred helvella-Gray puff ball-Fingered clavaria-Agarics, to be understood, observed in all stages of growth-Perishable nature of created things-Parasitic fungi-laurel-holly-two-fronted sphæria-elm leaves-sycamore leaves-bark of plants-the nut-beech-Odorous agaric -Fragment agaric-'Stainer' agaric-Stinking phallus-Mode of propa- gation-Turreted puff-Starry puff-Morell-Bell-shaped nidularia-Food Marten cat-his capture-well adapted for a predatory life-its skin-Hedge- hog-mode of life-always destroyed-prejudices against-cruelty of man -an article of food-sensibility of the spines-Harvest mouse-where found-character-Increase and decrease of animals-Migration of rats -Water shrew-its residence and habits-common shrew mouse-Pale blue shrew-Mole-his actions-character-abundance of-easily discovers his food-structure of his body-fur and hair of animals-flesh of the Birds-admiration of-The hedge sparrow-contingencies of its life-song Nightingale-migrating birds-Rooks love long avenues-Starlings- great flights-social habits-breeding-a stray bird-actions before roost- ing-congregate-very attentive to their young-journeyings-Laborious life of birds-Red-start-Starling, brown-habits-a very dusky bird- Hawks capture by intimidation-single out individuals-Early seasons- bring rain-Blooming of the white thorn-Migrating birds—their conduct -Butcher bird-Gray fly-catcher-Thrush-instance of affection-motives of action-utility in a garden-Sparrows-domestic habits-manners- increase-destruction-great consumers of insects-accommodating appe- Creatures associating with man-Common mouse-Rat-House-fly-Utility of animals-Conduct of man-The dog-Wheatear-Country amusements often cruel-Supplication for pity-Eggs—their markings-Foolish super- stition-Kite-his habits-great capture of-Blackcap-habits-song- nest-food-shyness-habits of our occasional visiting birds-Petty chaps -White throats-Willow wren-Fear of man in animals-Stratagem of a wren-Instinct — Awakening of birds-Early morning-Morning in autumn-Goldfinch-captured-die in the winter-soon reconciled to captivity-Tree-creeper-winters in England-not an increasing bird— Yellow wagtail-Rapacious birds-Passerine birds-Buntings-unthatch- ing corn ricks-Old tokens and signs-White lily-Pimpernel - Mistle- thrush-his note-breeds near the dwellings of man-Change of char- acter in birds-Love of offspring-Divine appointments-Jack snipe- solitary habits-Christmas shooter-Association of birds-Peewit-habits -eggs - Prognostications - Hedge-fruit-Fieldfares-Redwings-feeding in the lowlands-uplands-Egg of the fieldfare-Rural sounds-notes of birds Plumage of birds-Song of birds-Woodlark-habits-voice- capture-Language of man-of birds-Note significant of danger- Singing a spontaneous effusion-Variety of note in same species-Lady. bird' note of a song-thrush-Croaking of the nightingale-Admiration Knowledge slowly obtained-Entomology a difficult study-Wonders around stitions regarding the insect--voice-Great water-beetle-its habits and voracity-Hair worm-its object-Nests of a solitary wasp Hornets- their abundance at times, and voracity-kill each other-Garden snail- its injuries-generally secure from destruction-faculties-small banded snails-their numbers-superstitions concerning them-Earth-worms- numbers of the prey of all creatures-utility of-drain watery soils--- Empiricism-Apple-tree blight--progress-injury-White moss rose-Tes tacellus halotideus-Cure of the American blight-Effect of season on the vegetation-Destruction of grass roots-Honey-dew-Injury to foliage by small moths-Salt winds-Leasing-its profits-an innocent occupa- tion-ordained by the Almighty-Old customs-wearing out-May-poles -Christmassing-Kitchen bushes-young holly-trees-Singular conceit― Influence of electric atmosphere on vegetation-Anecdote of the finding of a guinea -Hummings in the air-Fairy rings-Spring changes→ Periodical winds-Whirly pits-Sinkings in the earth-Lichen fascicu- laris Salt winds destructive of vegetation-Spottings on apples spottings on strawberry leaves-curious agaric-Curious analogy between The year 1825-its peculiarities and influences—A speedy method of killing 259 to the end. JOURNAL OF A NATURALIST. THE village in which I reside is situated upon a very ancient road, connecting the city of Bristol with that of Gloucester, and thus with all the great towns in the North of England. This road runs for the chief part upon a high limestone ridge, from which we obtain a very beautiful and extensive prospect: the broad estuary of the river Severn, the mountains of Glamorgan, Monmouth, and Brecon, with their peaceful vales, and cheerful-looking white cottages, form the distant view: beneath it lies a vast extent of arable and pasture land, gained originally by the power of man from this great river, and preserved now from her incursions by a considerable annual expenditure, testifying his industry and perseverance, and exhibiting his reward. The Aust ferry, supposed to be the "trajectus," or place where the Romans were accustomed to pass the Severn, is visible, with several stations of that people and the ancient British, being a part of that great chain of forts originally maintained to restrain the plundering inroads of the restless inhabitants of the other bank of the river: Thornbury, with its fine cathedral-like church and castle, the opposite red cliffs of the Severn, and the stream itself, are fine and interesting features. An encampment of some people, probably Romans, occupies a rather elevated part of the parish, consisting of perhaps three acres of ground, surrounded by a high agger, with no ditch, or a very imperfect one, and probably was never designed for protracted resistance: it appears to form one of the above-mentioned series of forts erected by Ostorius, commencing at Weston, in Somersetshire, and terminating at Bredon in the county of Worcester-ours was probably a specula, or watchhill, of the larger kind. We can yet trace, though at places but obscurely, the roads that connected this encampment with other posts in adjoining villages. A few years sweep away commonly all traces of roads of later periods, and the testimony of some old man is often required to substantiate that one had ever been in existence within the memory of a life; yet these uniting roads, which, as works, must have been originally insignificant, little more than by-ways, after disuse for above fourteen hundred years, and encountering all the erasements of time, inclosures, and the plow, are yet manifest, and an evidence of that wonderful people, thieves and ruffians though they were, who constructed them. There is probably no region on the face of the globe ever colonized, or long possessed, by this nation, which does not yet afford some testimony of their having had a footing on it; this people, who, so long before their power existed, it was predicted, should be of “a fierce countenance, dreadful, terrible, strong exceedingly, with great iron teeth that devoured and broke in pieces," where'er thy legions camp'd, Stern sons of conquest, still is known, By many a grassy mound, by many a sculptured stone. Almost every Roman road that I have observed appears to have been considerably elevated above the surrounding soil, and hence more likely to remain apparent for a length of time than any of those of modern construction, which are flat, or with a slight central convexity; the turf, that in time by disuse would be formed over them, would in one case present a grassy ridge, in the other be confounded with the adjoining land. .* Coins of an ancient date, I think, have not been found here ;* nor do we possess any remains of warlike edi. fices, or religious endowments. Our laborers have at * Some money was found in one of our fields a few years past, which fame, as in all such cases, without perhaps any foundation, enlarged to a considerable sum. The nature of the coin I know not. A few old guineas were admitted; but from fear of that spectre "tresor trove," the whole was concealed, whatever it might be. |