the order in which they usually appear, with some trifling variation, perhaps, in each season. This, according to Mr. White, is the latest summer bird of passage, but the arrival of some of the summer birds is very uncertain. For more particulars respecting the migration of Birds, particularly of Swallows, see April 2. To the above list of migratory birds, some ornithologists have added the Larks, Ouzels, Thrushes, and Starlings. Most of the softbilled birds feed on insects, and not on grain or seeds, and therefore usually retire before winter; but the following, though they eat insects, remain with us during the whole year; viz. - The Redbreast, Winter Fauvette, and Wren, which frequent outhouses and gardens, and eat spiders, small worms, crumbs, &c. The Pied, the Yellow, and the Grey Wagtail, which frequent the heads of springs, where the waters seldom freeze, and feed on the aureliae of insects usually deposited there. Beside these, the Winchat, the Stonechat, and the Goldencrested Wren, are seen with us during the winter; the latter, though the least of all the British Birds, can endure the severest cold of our winters, when it is often seen in our Gardens and Orchards, running on the snowy and frozen boughs. FLORA. Many and lovely are the flowers which, scattered in profusion from the lap of Spring, are recorded by the Poet. The Spring Flowers, from Bidlake. The Jonquil loads with potent breath the air, Ranunculus, reflecting every ray; The Polyanthus, and with prudent head March 23. St. Alphonsus. St. Edelwald. SS. Victorian, and others, Martyrs. O rises at v. 52′, sets vi. 8'. Tubilustrium.Var. Rom. Cal. URANIA.The following popular directions for finding the place of certain Constellations and fixed Stars in the starry Heavens, are extracted from the best received works on Astronomy, and will be useful to the general observer, and to all who are fond of stargazing. On the 23d of March, soon after seven in the evening, Sirius, and the third star of Gemini, are seen on the meridian; the three stars of Aries, the Pleiades, Hyades, Aldebaran, Orion, and Capella, in the western parts of the heavens; Capella being, when it is first seen in the evening, very near to the zenith. In the eastern part of the heavens are the two first stars of Procyon, the two first stars of Gemini, and the Lion's Heart. This appearance will be nearly the same every night; if we look earlier, Orion will be nearly on the meridian; if later, Sirius will have passed it and now we may look particularly at Capella, and observe its progress at different intervals. the superior brightness and nearness of this star to the zenith, when it is first visible, one cannot fail of distinguishing it; and by looking at it, so as to have an idea of its path, we shall perceive that it differs from that of the other stars, which have hitherto been selected for our observations. From "When we walk abroad on a fine clear night, and behold the immense number of Stars with which the firmament seems filled, and recollect their immense size and immeasurable distance, and that each is probably a central sun like ours, to a respective system of inhabited Planets, then are we inclined to recoil on our own insignificance, and say, with the Psalmist, "O Lord, what is man, that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that thou regardest him!!!" March 24. St. Iraenus. St. Simon, an Infant. St. William of Norwich. Orises at v. 50', sets at vr. 10. FAUNA. THE STONE CURLEW Foedoa Oedienemus arrives about this time, and its peculiar cry begins to be heard, as it flies over our heads unseen in the darkness of evening, and the early part of the night. CHRONOLOGY.-King James I. began to reign in 1603. FAUNA.-The melody of birds now gradually becomes more and more powerful, and delights the ear. The Throstle, second only to the Nightingale in song, charms us with the sweetness and variety of its lays. The Blackbird, already noticed, becomes more lavish of his whistling song; and the Stormcock follows, and becomes particularly musical and clamorous before rain. Thrushes build their nests in some low bush or thicket; externally, they are composed of earth, moss, and straw, but the inside is curiously plastered with clay. Here the female deposits five or six pale bluish green eggs, marked with dusky spots. From the top of high trees, for the greater part of the these Birds pour forth their song. On the Throstle, by Grahame. Varied as his plumes; and as his plumes Blend beauteous, each with each, so run his notes Smoothly, with many a happy rise and fall. How prettily, upon his parded breast, The vividly contrasted tints unite To please the admiring eye! so, loud and soft, Full earlier than the Blackbird he begins His vernal strain. Regardless of the frown That mild gleams down, and spreads o'er all the grove. year, The Linnet and the Goldfinch join the general concert. Goldfinches construct very neat and compact compartments with moss, dried grass, and roots, which they line with wool, hair, the down of thistles, and other soft substances. The females lay five white eggs, marked with deep purple spots at the larger end: they feed their young with caterpillars and insects; but the old birds subsist on various kinds of seeds, especially those of the thistle, of which they are extremely fond. On the Nest of the Goldfinch, from Grahame's Birds of Scotland. Sometimes, suspended at the limber end . Of planetree spray, among the broadleaved shoots, The tiny hammock swings to every gale; Warp through the thorn, surmounted by the flowers His breast of brown: and see him stretch his wing,- On the Linnet's Song, by Mason. On the hawthorn spray The Linnet wakes her temperate lay; But soft she trills amid the aerial throng, March 25. ANNUNCIATIO B. V. MARIAE. St. Cammin, Abbot. rises at v. 49'. sets at vI. 11'. Aequinoctium vernum, Hilaria, Martis deûm festa.-Rom. Cal. This is called Lady Day, and most tenures are now held from this and Michaelmas Day, according to the new style. Old Ladytide occurs twelve days later. In the Christian world, this day celebrates the Angel's message to the Virgin Mary respecting our Blessed Lord. She died A. D. 48, being about sixty years old. The Author of "Rome in the Nineteenth Century," gives the following account of the Feast of the Annunciation, as it is still observed on this day at Rome:-"We drove through streets," says the Author, "lined with expecting crowds, and windows hung with crimson and yellow silk draperies, and occupied by females in their most gorgeous attire, till we made a stop near the church before which the Pope's horse guards, in their splendid full dress uniforms, were stationed to keep the ground; all of whom, both officers and men, wore in their caps a sprig of myrtle, as asign of rejoicing. After waiting a short time, the procession appeared, headed by another detachment of the guards, mounted on prancing black chargers, who rode forward to clear the way, accompanied by such a flourish of trumpets and kettledrums, that it looked at first like any thing but a peaceable or religious proceeding. This martial array was followed by a bareheaded priest, on a white mule, bearing the Host in a Gold Cup, at the sight of which every body fell upon their knees. The Pope used formerly to ride upon the white mule himself, and all the cardinals used to follow him in their magnificent robes of state, mounted either on mules or horses; and as the Eminentissimi are, for the most part, not very eminent horsemen, they were generally fastened on, lest they should tumble off." Ladytide being the most usual time when persons contract Leases and change their Residence, so shall we close the account of today with the following beautiful lines on leaving an old Domicile, by Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd. The Auld Man's Farewell to his Wee House. I like ye weel my wee auld house, Though laigh the wa's an' flat the riggin, Lang hast thou happit mine an' me, My head's grown grey aneath thy kipple, Baith to the blind man an' the cripple. The puir man left me aye his blessin'. In notes sae artless an' sae winnin'. Our frugal meal was aye a feast, I canna help but haud thee dear, Í better loe than gaudy ceilin'. Thy roof will fa', thy rafters start, How damp and cauld thy hearth will be! That erst was bauld an' blythe in thee! I thought to cour aneath thy wa', Till death had closed my weary een, Wi' lowly roof o' swaird sae green. |