heathens is represented as a bald old man, with a tail, carrying the youth Bacchus, and bearing wine skins on his shoulder. The bladders of the Campion are supposed to represent the wine skins, the god having merged in the plant.

JUNE 5TH.

THE DUNLIN SANDPIPER.-(Tringa variabilis.)

THE earnest student of natural history is generally, even in the majority of our large towns, placed within easy distance of favourable localities for observation. There are hills and valleys, arable or meadow lands, hedges, copse, and woodland, and not unfrequently marshes, both salt and fresh; brooks, rivulets, and streams abound in most districts, and there is usually easy access to blue water. Each of these localities will be found tenanted by different races of insect, bird, and animal, and, therefore, full of interest to those who desire to note the wonderful variations and the marvellous adaptations so frequently manifested in the vegetable and animal world. Those arms of the sea, or estuaries, where the receding tide leaves oozy flats of mud and weed-such as are found

"Where twice a day the Severn fills".

present great variety, numerous birds and insects are there found that rarely visit more inland localities. As a general rule our watering places are but little frequented by these strangers. It is in the more retired situations that they delight, and it is there only where their habits may be accurately studied. It was some time before we discovered the Sandpiper or Sea Snipe, yet it is a somewhat common bird. The fact was, we sought it without sufficient remembrance of its peculiar habits. It delights to seek its food amid the soft mud and weeds left by the receding tide, and during the ebb is perpetually on the move, probing every tuft of weed for aquatic insects, and giving forth its peculiar cry.

The male birds present an appearance so widely different in spring and winter, that the same bird may easily be taken

for distinct species. During the fairer half of the year the plumage is richly and beautifully coloured, the top of the head and neck of orange shading to a reddish black, on the back edged with orange, the neck grayish white, marked with brown, the under parts clear white and very dark brown. As the winter approaches the bright colours fade, toning down to a more sombre hue.

The nest is usually found on the banks where the long sea grass affords cover. Here the hen sits so closely that it is a chance if you do not pass by without noticing her. She is so intent upon her work as to brave the close proximity of intruders, and you may stand over the nest and meet the clear glance of the upturned eye, which seems to say, "I am not to be deterred from my work, and I refuse to move." The eggs are perfect gems in shape and colour; they are of a clear light green, spotted with orange brown.

JUNE 6TH.

THE EARTH NUT, KIPPER NUT, OR HAWK NUT.(Bunium flexuosum.)

IN our old pastures we may now readily discover a slender plant with the leaves cut into long, acute segments; the tapering (occasionally zigzag) stem, about a foot high, bearing heads of small white flowers, not unlike the flower of the parsley, though somewhat larger; it is more frequent on the sides of the hills, than in the meadows; indeed, its generic name, Bunium, is derived from Bounos, a hill; there is nothing very conspicuous in the plant or striking in the flower; still, it is worthy of notice, from its sweet and eatable root. Most schoolboys know the plant as the Jar Nut, or Earth Chestnut; and many holiday excursions we have made in days long past to dig the roots for roasting. The name of the plant is sufficient to bring back to remembrance old schoolboy faces and old scenes-pleasant walks over the moors and hill sides, by the banks of winding streams, deep into the solitudes of the forest, or in the suburbs of the quiet calm little town where authority held rule, amid

"Fair dwellings, single or in social knot,

Some scattered o'er the level, others perched
On the hill sides, a cheerful quiet scene."

The Earth Nut somewhat resembles the sweet potato in flavour, but we used of old to deem the Nut as superior to the best chestnuts. When properly cultivated, the root attains considerably increased size, and it might possibly prove an acquisition of value to our usual garden produce; the root is very nutritious, superior in taste to the potato, and would probably become a favourite, if duly cultured by some of our market gardeners and introduced to public notice.

We owe many of our valuable fruits to the wildings of the hedges and fields; the wild crab has, by attentive culture, become a choice fruit; the coarse Brassica olearcea of our coasts and cliffs, one of our esteemed table vegetables; and it may be that, by judicious culture, this wild, prolific tuberous root would prove a valuable substitute in times of disease and scarcity for the potato; and as it would usually precede the appearance of that root in spring, it might prevent some disease caused by the consumption of unwholesome vegetables.

JUNE 7TH.

THE BOTTLE TITMOUSE, OR LONG-TAILED TIT.-(Parus caudatus.)

THIS bird is known by various names in different localities. In the west we have heard it called "Long Tom poke pudding.” It is a small but remarkably active bird, ever in motion, its long tail kept in continual vibration as it flits from branch to branch, or runs up, down, and round the tree, prying into every crevice with a most knowing look.

The bird measures about five inches in length; the bill short, and admirably adapted for picking out larvæ from the cracks in the bark of trees, &c.; the tail is of great length. The feathers on the top of the head are generally erected into a tuft; the head marked with black and white; the back rose and black; wings black and white; under parts ashy gray, tinted with red—altogether a very beautiful dress. The nest

formed by this bird is unsurpassed for lightness, neatness of workmanship, and warmth. It is of oval shape, with a small entrance near the top, woven of moss and dry grasses, the exterior adroitly covered with lichens, both white and gray, to assimilate with those on the branch of the tree where the nest is placed; and so admirably is this done, that it requires a keen eye to discover where the tree ends and the nest begins; the lichens are bound on with spiders' web, or the silk spun by the larvae of the butterfly; and, to add to the deception, small portions of the bark of the tree are also woven into the exterior of the nest. Mr. Jesse states that he has seen a nest of this bird over the entrance to which a feather had been placed for concealment, so that the valve or door was lifted at each entrance and exit of the birds. No other naturalist mentions any such contrivance, and probably the case referred to resulted from accident. The formation of the nest is sufficiently wonderful in its usual form, especially when we consider that the little architect was without experience as to form, materials, &c., and its only tools the bill and claws; and yet how admirably have the materials been wrought, just into the form best suited to the needs of the bird-capacious in size, for the large family it is to hold; a narrow access at the side, to prevent the entrance of moisture or cold; and warmly lined with downy feathers, so that, whilst food is being sought for the fourteen or sixteen young ones, warmth may be retained in the nest during the parents' absence. The eggs are very small-not much larger than full-sized peasand of a milk-white colour.

It is not unusual to see the whole family of young Tits associating through the winter with the parent birds, sporting together in the trees, and all the while keeping up a constant charming twit twit as they fly to and fro.

JUNE 8TH.

THE GREATER PLANTAIN OR WAYBREAD. (Plantago major.)

Ir not unfrequently happens that after a fine, dry, warm May the steep hillsides and downy lands show signs of exhaustion -the herbage browns, even the new foliage of the trees droop,

and the roadside plants wither; then a considerable rainfall takes place, and, as if some magic wand had been waved over the landscape, everything revives; the whole face of Nature is suddenly changed-the brown is succeeded by the brightest green, and the meads, stimulated by the warmth and moisture, become full of luxuriant herbage, so soft and nash, that it crushes into moisture under the footfall. The foliage of every tree in the woodland is freshened, new-greened by the welcome rain; the birds sing out their gladness, and all Nature is refreshed and revived. Even our common wayside plants, washed by the storm and stimulated by the warmth, speedily attain unusual luxuriance, and from dusty, soil-stained weeds become, as it were, flowers.

The Common Plantain we have observed under the circumstances adverted to, so to flourish as to become well entitled to rank amongst our flowers. From the pale green star-like leaves the flower stems rise to a foot or more in height; tipped with a cone of blossom that may well claim to be ranked as beautiful, the flowers are usually so small as scarcely to be noticed, but, under the circumstances adverted to, the lilac colour of the cup and hairlike filaments become full and rich, and powdered with white anthers, and thus the plant has a striking appearance amid the fresh grass, or in the pathway of the green lane.

The plant is said to follow the footsteps of the white man; the name given to it by some of the Indian tribes was the "white man's footsteps;" the flowers have a delicate hawthornlike but faint perfume. The plant was formerly reckoned as one of our most efficacious vulnerary herbs, and the leaves are still in high repute with many villagers, who retain their faith in those old herbalists who pointed out the Plantain as singular good wound herb to heal fresh or old wounds."

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It has been said that the noble and royal name of Plantagenet was derived from this wayside plant. "Plantagenet" appears, however, to have been the name given to Henry II., from his custom of wearing in his cap a sprig of broom, the name of which, in French, is Planta genet.