Adam Sirch-goona Munhi Rathanal (Formerly a High Priest of Boodhu / Educated in England by the Rev. Adam Clarke. LL.D. Published by Henry Fisher, Caxton, Liverpool.1821. MONTHLY OBSERVATIONS. With a Catalogue of all really British Plants, as they come into Flower. JULY. As January is the coldest, so this is the hottest month in all the countries of the northern hemisphere; and frequently in England the direct beams of the sun are as warm as under the Line; in consequence of this, rural labour ceases in the middle of the day; and both men and cattle recruit their vigour by a mid-day nap. The tillage of turnips is just ended, and some showers are much wanted to cause the seed to vegetate; when this is long delayed, a good crop is not expected. This is the time also, when the hay harvest is finishing in the north. The singing of birds is not so lively as it has been; they are preparing to change their feathers, a process which they undergo annually, but which is peculiarly destructive to those which are kept prisoners in a cage. The Redbreast is usually the first of British birds that moults, and consequently the first that resumes its song, which it does in the following month. About this time, the Cuckoo migrates, being the first of our birds of passage that leaves us; it is supposed to go to the interior of Africa. Trout are observed sporting in the sun, in the deepest parts of the rivers, but they will not then take a bait; they may be taken in the evening, but especially early in the morning. Fishes of the Whale tribe (Balana, Physetu & Delphinus) are now active in the pursuit of small fish; and often, in the ardour of pursuit, get themselves into situations of real danger. Sharks also abound, and prey on every thing they can swallow, alive or dead. Fourteen or fifteen species are found on the British coasts at this time, of which the most formidable are, the Blue Shark, (Squalus Glaucus,) and No. 29.-VOL. III. [1821. White Shark, (Sq. Carcharias). The following fact will shew how retentive these creatures are of life: in 1820, when some fishermen were employed at a distance from land, in fishing for pilchards, a blue shark, about five or six feet long, came about the boat, and soon took a bait. After beating it about the snout with a club until it appeared to be helpless, it was taken into the boat, and the head divided from the body, between the spiracles and pectoral fins. It was then thrown overboard, and it immediately sunk. Some time elapsed, when it was seen to rise again, and it continued moving about with its accustomed activity, in different directions, for an hour and half; and when the boat left the place, it appeared to have suffered no diminution of its vigour. Sunfishes (Diodon Astringa) appear on the coast, and lie (sometimes appearing to be asleep) on the surface of the water, with a third part of their body above. The Launce (Ammodytes) comes into shallow water, and is followed by the smaller order of rapacious fishes; to escape from which it hides itself in the sand. Some ac In this month, the different specics of solitary Bees abound; but in some years they are much more abundant than in others, and it would appear that the egg or larva must lie torpid for many years, until a favourable season calls it into life. count of one species, (Apis Centuncularis) I have given in the second volume of this work, col. 653. They are seen searching every cranny for a hole in which to deposit an egg, and for this purpose they quarter out the space as regularly as a setting dog; but they will not use a hole that is charged with filth. Caterpillars abound, and are found devouring the different species of Cabbage; but it is said that beating the leaves with elder, or sprinkling them with water in which potatoes have been boiled, will protect them from their depredations. Numerous spots of froth are often seen 2 P in gardens or hedges, on furze, or in- | deed any low shrub; and they form a curious contrast with the excessive dryness of every thing around. They proceed from the larvæ of the Cicada Spumaria, and form the protection which Nature has provided for that delicate frame. Another, and still more extraordinary insect that appears this month, is the Glow-worm, which lights up its little lamp when the evening closes, for purposes concerning which there has been much controversy among naturalists. This light proceeds from the under side of the three last rings of the body, and is entirely voluntary. The little creature always keeps on the ground; and the luminous part is most usually bent forward, and sometimes twisted towards one side, in the direction of the eyes, which are under the thorax. When it moves, it is by a little start, the light is again bent forward, and sometimes extraordinary pains are taken to direct it towards the head. Hence it would seem as if designed to assist the little creature in its search after its food. 588 Least Gentianella, Exacum filiforme ; Alpine Ladies' Mantle, Alchemilla alpina; Broad-leaved Pondweed, Potamogeton natans, and eight other species; Allseed, Radiola millegrana; Sea Lungwort, Pulmonaria maritima; Tuberous-rooted Comfrey, Symphytum tuberosum; Yellow Loosestrife, Lysimachia vulgaris; Tufted Loosestrife, L. thyrsiflora; Bog Pimpernel, Anagallis tenella; Trailing Azalea, A. procumbens; Great Bindweed, Convolvulus sepium; Sea Bindweed, C. soldanella; Spreading Bell-flower, Campanula patula; Rampion Bellflower, C. rapunculus; Nettle-leaved Bell-flower, C. trachelium; Clusterd Bell-flower, C. glomerata; Water Lobelia, L. dortmanna; Great, white, yellow, black, and Moth Mullein, Verbascum thapsus, lychnitis, pulverulentum, nigrum, & blattaria; Thorn Apple, Datura Stramonium; Henbane, Hyoscyamus niger; Common Centaury, Chironia centaureum; Water Pimpernel, Samolus valerandi ; Upright Honeysuckle, Lonicera xylostrum; Whorled Knotgrass, Illecebrum verticillatum; Bastard Toadflax, Thesium linophyllum; Smooth Rupturewort, Herniaria glabra; Hairy Rupturewort, H. hirsuta; White Goosefoot, Chenopodium album; Allseed Goosefoot, C. polyspermum; Sea Goosefoot, C. maritimum; Prickly Saltwort, Salsola kali; Shrubby Saltwort, S. fruticosa; Sea Eryngo, Eryngium maritimum; Field Eryngo, E. campestre; Thoroughwax, Bupleurum rotundifolium; Hare's-Ear, B. tenuissimum ; Prickly Samphire, Echi Come into flower in July:-Common Chara, Chara vulgaris; Prickly Chara, C. hispida; Smooth Chara, C. flexilis; Mountain Circæa, C. alpina; Spiked Speedwell, Veronica spicata; Welsh Speedwell, V. hybrida; Blue Rock Speedwell, V. sexatilis; Flesh-coloured Shrubby Speedwell, V. fruticulosa; Alpine Speedwell, V. alpina; Brooklime, V. becabunga; Long-leaved Brooklime, V. anagallis; Narrowleaved Marsh Brooklime, V. scutellata; Hooded and lesser hooded Mil-nophora spinosa; Great Bur Parsley, foil, Utricularia vulgaris & minor; Gipsywort, Lycopus europæus; Meadow Clary, Salvia pratensis; Yellow Iris, I. pseudacorus; Eleven species of Rush, Schoenus, Cyperus, & Scirpus genera; Fifty-four species of Grass, Nardus, Phalaris, Sanicum, Phleum, Alopecurus, Aira, Holcus, Poa, Briza, Cynosurus, Festuca, Bromus, Stipa, Avena, Lolium, Elymus, & Triticum; Wild Teasel, Dipsacus Sylvestris; Field Scabious, Scabiosa arvensis; White Water Bedstraw, Galium palustre: Rough Heath Bedstraw, G. Witheringii; Smooth Heath Bedstraw, G. sexatile; Corn Bedstraw, G. tricorne; Least Mountain Bedstraw, G. tricorne; Yellow Bedstraw, G. verum; Great Hedge Bedstraw, G. mollugo; Cross-leaved Bedstraw, G. boreale; Caucalis latifolia; Upright Hedge Parsley, C. anthriscus; Spreading Hedge Parsley, C. infesta; Marsh Milky Parsley, Selinum palustre; Common Cow Parsnep, Heracleum sphondylium; Scottish and Cornish Lovage, Ligusticum Scoticum & Cornubiense; Wild Angelica, A. sylvestris; Broad and narrow-leaved Water Parsnep, Sium latifolium & angustifolium; Procumbent and Whorled Water Parsnep, S. nodiflorum & verticillatum; Common Water Dropwort, Enanthe fistulosa; Parsley Water Dropwort, E. pimpinelloides; Hemlock Water Dropwort, E. crocata; Lesser Hemlock, Ethusa cynapium; Wild Parsnep, Pastinaca sativa; Common Fennel, Anethum foeniculum; Common and Great Burnet Saxifrage, 589 Monthly Observations. 590 rey, S. subulata; Purple Loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria; Weld, Reseda luteola; Base Rocket, R. lutea; Purple Spurge, Euphorbia peplis; and five other species; House Leek, Sempervivum tectorum; Willow-leaved Spiræa, S. salicifolia; Dropwort, S. filipendula; Burnet Rose, Rosa spinosissima; Prickly unexpanded Rose, R. involuta; Hazel-leaved Bramble, Rubus corylifolius; CommonBramble, Rubus fruticosus; Mountain Avens, Dryas octopetala; Yellow-horned Poppy, Glaucium luteum; Mongrel and White Poppy, Papaver hybridum & somniferum; Yellow and White Water Lily, Nymphæa lutea & alba; Limetree, Tilia Europæa; Dottedleaved and common Dwarf Cistus, Cistus surrejanus & helianthemum ; Columbine, Aquilegia vulgaris; Water Soldier, Stratiotes aloides; Traveller's Joy, Clematis vitalba; Common Meadow Rue, Thalictrum flavum ; Greater Spearwort, Ranunculus lingua; Little Upright Crawfoot, R. parvulus; Alpine Bugle, Ajuga alpina; Wood Sage, Teucrium scorodonia; Water Germander, T. scordium; Wall Germander, T. chamædrys; Catmint, Nepeta cataria; Vervain, Verbena officinalis; Bergamot Mint, M. odorata; Downy Hemp Nettle, Galeopsis vil Pimpinella saxifraga & magna; Dwarf Elder, Sambucus ebulus; Tamarisk, Tamarix gallica; Strapwort, Corrigiola littoralis; Thrift, Statice armeria; Sea Lavender, S. limonium; Matted Sea Lavender, S. reticulata; Common and Narrow-leaved Paleflax, Linum usitatissimum & angustifolium; Procumbent Sibbaldia, S. procumbens; Round-leaved, Long-leaved, and Great Sundew, Drosera rotundifolia, longifolia, & anglica; Great roundheaded Garlick, Allium ampeloprasum; Sand Garlick, A. arenarium; Mountain Garlick, A. carinatum; Streaked Field Garlick, A. oleraceum; Crow Garlick, A. vineale; Asphodel, Narthecium ossifragum; Ten species of Rush, Juncus ; Smooth and Powdery Seaheath, Frankenia levis & pulverulenta; Water Purslane, Peplis portula; Bloody-veined Dock, Rumex sanguineus; Šharp Dock, R. acutus; Broad-leaved Dock, R. obtusifolius; Golden Dock, R. maritimus; Yellow Marsh Dock, R. palustris; Greater Water Dock, R. aquaticus; Marsh Arrow Grass, Triglochin palustre; Great and Floating Water Plantain, Alisma plantago, & natans; Seven species of Willow Herb, Epilobium; Yellow Centaury, Chlora perfoliata; Cross-leaved and Cornish Heath, Erica tetralix & vagans; Am-losa; Common Hemp Nettle, G. tephibious Persicaria, Polygonum amphibium; Spotted Persicaria, P. persicaria; Pale-flowered Persicaria, P. lapathifolium; Buckwheat, P. fagopyrum; Round-leaved Wintergreen, Pyrola rotundifolia; Lesser Wintergreen, P. minor; Serrated Wintergreen, P. secunda; Single-flowered Wintergreen, P. uniflora; Clustered Alpine, Yellow Mountain, and drooping Bulbous Saxifrage, Saxifraga nivalis, aizoides, & cernua; Annual Knawel, Scleranthus annuus; Deptford Pink, Dianthus armeria; Proliferous Pink, D. prolifer; Clove Pink, D. caryophyllus; Maiden Pink, D. deltoides; English Catchfly, Silene anglica; Bladder Campion, S. inflata; Spanish Catchfly, S. olites; Corn Catchfly, S. conica; Night-flowering Catchfly, S. nortiflora; Lobel's Catchfly, S. armeria; Purple Sandwort, Arenaria rubra; Dwarf Cherleria, C. sedoides; Four species of Stone Crop, Sedum; Water Chickweed, Cerastium aquaticum; Corn Spurrey, Spergula arvensis; Knotted Spurrey, S. nodosa; Ciliated Awl-shaped Spur trahit; Bee Nettle, G. versicolor; Betony, B. officinalis; Hedge, Downy, and Corn Woundwort, Stachys sylvatica, germanica, & arvensis; Black Horehound, Bullota nigra; White Horehound, Marrubium vulgare; Motherwort, Leonurus cardiaca; Marjorum, Origanum vulgare; Wild and Bazil Thyme, Thymus serpyllum & arinos; Calamint, T. calamintha; Common Skull-cap, Scutellaria galericulata; Self-heal, Prunella vulgaris; Alpine Bartsia, B. alpina; Yellow, Viscid, and Red Bartsia, B. viscosa & odontites; Eyebright, Euphrasia officinalis; Crested Cowwheat, Melampyrum cristatum, and three other species; Round-leaved Fluellin, Antirrhinum spurium; Sharp-pointed Fluellin, A. elatine; Creeping pale blue Toadflax, A. repens; Great Snapdragon, A. majus; Lesser Snapdragon, A. orontium; Knotty-rooted and Water Figwort, Scrophularia nodosa & aquatica; Balm-leaved Figwort, S. scorodonia; Moneywort, Sibthorpia Europæa; Mudwort, Limosella aquatica; Tall, Lesser, and Purple Broom |