----Daffodils
That come before the swallow dares, and take
The winds of March with beauty.
The intelligent observer of nature, from whose writings we have
been permitted to make some extracts, has been greatly struck with
coincidences of this kind; and he mentions, with interest, an idea
suggested in the same work, of forming "a calendar, by which the
flowering of a plant should acquaint us with the appearance of a bird,
and the appearance of an insect tell us the flowering of a plant."
Following up this idea, he annexes a plan of such a calendar, in
which each month, except "dark December," contains notices of these
occurrences in nature. The grounds for his remarks are extremely
curious, and worthy of our observation. In associating the wasp with
the hawthorn-leaf in April, the author says, "Wasps seem to delight
in frequenting hawthorn-hedges in the spring, as soon as the early
foliage comes out. What is it that attracts them to these haunts?
Perhaps they come in search of the larvæ of other insects which feed
on the hawthorn. That wasps, whose ordinary food seems to be fruit,
yet occasionally devour insects, there can be no doubt, as, even in
summer, they may often be seen to attack and devour the flies in the
windows. When they make their first appearance in spring, there
is no fruit for them; therefore they may, at that season resort to
hawthorn-hedges, which abound with the larvæ of various insects. The
song of the cuckoo is found to occur at the time of the appearance of
the _Papilio cardamines_, (or orange-tipped butterfly.) It is a common
remark, that the cuckoo is seldom heard in July, and this _papilio_ is
rarely met with so late. In the end of November, the little winter-moth
_(Phalæna brumaria,)_ is classed with the late-flowering _asters_."
We add an account of this insect in the author's own words. "This
modestly-attired little moth is found abundantly throughout the greater
part of the months of November and December. Its delicate texture,
and weakly form, would seam to mark it as an insect ill calculated
to endure the inclement season appointed as its proper period of
existence. But nature knows her own business best; and, accordingly,
these slender creatures brave the tempestuous weather they are doomed
to encounter, totally regardless of the cold, the wet, the winds, and
the fogs of November and December;
These little bodies, mighty souls inform!
Let it blow, or rain, or shine, there they are sporting and dancing
away, under the sheltered sides of banks and hedges, with a resolute
hardihood and perseverance that are truly admirable, apparently
enjoying themselves as much as the butterfly in the sultry sun-beams of
July."
[From a paper by the Rev. W. T. BREE, in the _Magazine of Natural
History_.]
* * * * *
If a man will look at most of his prejudices, he will find that they
arise from his field of view being necessarily narrow, like the eye
of the fly. He can have but little better notions of the whole scheme
of things, as has been well said, than a fly on the pavement of St.
Paul's Cathedral can have of the whole structure. He is offended,
therefore, by inequalities, which are lost in the great design. This
persuasion will fortify him against many injurious and troublesome
prejudices.----CECIL.
* * * * *
The Christian member of a Christian household has this heavenly and
solacing assurance, "that so strong, so unearthly become the bonds
which unite those who have long lived together in the unity of the
Spirit, no less than community of blood; that they undoubtedly
enjoy," even in absence, "a certain, though undefinable, fruition of
each other's presence; they hear each other's voices speaking in the
depth of their bosoms, dissuading, approving, comforting, rejoicing,
and thus realize, to its fullest extent, that blessed privilege,
alas! how seldom enjoyed, or even understood, of the communion of
saints."----_The Rectory of Valehead._
* * * * *
We cannot keep our bodies long here, they are corruptible bodies, and
will tumble into dust; we must part with them for a while, and if ever
we expect and desire a happy meeting again, we must use them with
modesty and reverence now.----SHERLOCK.
* * * * *