The Work Of Nature In The Months.

seek the meadow , but pause one moment and gather the clustering fruit of the Wild Cherry , decidedly more pleasing to the sight than gratifying to the taste . Amongst the grass , then , Ave may pluck the YelloAv Goat ' s Beard and the pale blue Flax , the purple Self Healand the

de-, ceptive green Wild Mignonette ; if we are in luck ' s Avay , we shall find' the Deptford Pink and the golden Ragwort , the Hawkweed Picris and the curious SundeAV ; Avhilst near the Avater ' s edge we are sure of finding the glorious Willow-Aveed—the

Bird ' s-foot Trefoil will reward our search Avith its ladies ' -slippers , or pattens-andclogs , of our childhood ' s day ' s ; the yelloAv Vetchling is here in force Avith its neighbour , the Woad-Avaxen or Dyer ' s GreenAveed ; next come the Meadow weed ,

the Hemp Agrimony , and the magnificent purple Loosestrife ; we must not forget that general favourite , the turquoise Forgetme-not , with its touching story , dear to lovers'

hearts" Then the blossoms blue to the bank he threw Ere he sank in the eddying tide ; And ' Lady , I ' m gone , thine OAVU knight true , Forget-me-not , ' he cried . " The farewell pledge the lady caught , And hence , as legends say , The flower is a sign to awaken thought

Of friends who are far away . " In the water itself Ave observe the conspicuous Water-plaintain ; close under its lofty stems nestles the handsome patches , resembling miniature Water-liliesof the

, white blossomed Frogbit ; Avhilst , last but by no means least important , Ave cull for our alfresco luncheon , the cool delicious Water-cress . Time Avill not serve us to describe the handsome flags and rushes , or enter into

the study of the myriad grasses , and so Ave must linger only to add to our list of insect friends fluttering over the grassy meadthe Tortoise-shell Butterflies ( larger and smaller ) , the gorgeous Purple Emperor , the White Admiral , and the Painted Lad

y ; Avhilst to our Moths we add the Tiger , the Oakeggar , and the Dark Crimson Under-Aviug . Of birds , then' eggs , and nests , Ave must this month say little more than that most of them , having started successfull y one family into the world , are busily

engaged attending to the wants of a second brood . As Ave glance across the stream , hoAvever , and our sight falls upon the ivymantled toAver of the church , our eyes arc attracted by a singular spectacle . On

every projection and every cornice , and indeed on every point that will afford a lodgement , cluster numberless SAvalloAvs and Martens , getting ready for their long , long journey , whither ? Ave knoAV not , save that the Avide salt sea is no bar to

their progress , for the rigging of many a ship has afforded a temporary resting place to the birds in the midst of their long journey , upon Avhich they will enter toAvards the latter end of the month .

The day is noAv rapidly closing in , and the honey-laden bees are wending their way hive-wards for the last time ' ere nightfaU , and Ave can but hope that our day ' s work in culling the SAveets of knoAvleclge may prove as productive as the labour of those tiny Avorkers ; truly do thej

commend themselves to our respect , and bid us follow the example of their ceaseless industry ; but Avhilst Ave render them every possible honour for this estimable quality , Ave cannot forget that there is one very disagreeable trait in their character

which takes an exceedingly practical turn in the last week of the month , Ave mean their great selfishness , turning everything ancl everybody of their acquaintance into profit , and as soon as they have made all they can out of itgetting rid of the object

, to Avhich they have paid hitherto such scrupulous , but Ave fear hypocritical , attion . Need Ave say that Ave mean the dreadful murder of the husbands by those lady-bees , Avho have turned their talents into other than maternal directions . We

often compare our own busy country to a hive of bees , but it Avould be rather hard lines for some of us if the simile Avere to be carried out in its entirety ; the " shrieking sisterhood " are there , and their instincts are doubtless someAvhat allied to

those of these bloodthirsty " neuter bees , Avoe betide us poor '' drones , " as they consider us , if they should ever get the upperhand . HoAvever , this hive of ours is not yet altogether converted to the faith that the greatest talkers are invariably the greatest doers , and so we may Avend out peaceful way liomeAvards for a little longer