gations may, perhaps, throw some light on the destiny of those left undisturbed.' The Rhodians had a festival called, in Greek, Chelidonia, when the boys brought about young swallows; the song which they sang may be seen in the works of Meursius, v. iii, p. 974, fol. He comes! He comes! who loves to bear And alluding to this custom, Avienus (who may be considered only as a very bad translator of an excellent poem, the Periegesis of Dionysius) thus says, v. 705, Nam cum vere novo, tellus se dura relaxat, Culminibusque cavis, blandum strepit ales hirundo From a passage in the "birds" of Aristophanes,. we learn that, among the Greeks, the crane pointed out the time of sowing; the arrival of the kite, the time of sheep-shearing; and the swallow, the time to put on summer-clothes. According to the Greek Calendar of Flora, kept by Theophrastus at Athens, the Ornithian winds blow and the swallow comes between the 28th of February and the 12th of March; the kite and nightingale appear between the 11th and 26th of March; the cuckoo appears at the same time the young figs come out, thence his name '. Many other of the small billed birds that feed on insects disappear when the cold weather commences. The throstle, the red wing, and the fieldfare, which migrated in March, now return; and the ring-ouzel arrives from the Welsh and Scottish Alps to winter in more sheltered situations. All these birds feed upon berries, of which there is a plentiful supply, in our * See White's Natural History of Selborne, vol. ii, p. 311; and Stillingfleet's Tracts on Natural History, p. 324. woods, during a great part of their stay. The throstle and the red-wing are delicate eating. The Romans kept thousands of them together in aviaries, and fed them with a sort of paste made of bruised figs and flour, &c. to improve the delicacy and flavour of their flesh. Towards the end of September the leaves of trees begin to put on their autumnal dress. Mr. Stillingfleet remarks, that, about the 25th, the leaves of the plane tree were tawny; of the hazel, yellow; of the oak, yellowish green; of the sycamore, dirty brown; of the maple according to the soil and season, every hue, from pale yellow to a deep red and orange; of the ash, a fine lemon colour; of the elm, orange; of the hawthorn, tawny yellow; of the cherry, red of the hornbeam, bright yellow; of the willow, still hoary. Yet, many of these tints cannot be considered complete, in some seasons, till the middle or latter end of October. ; In this month particularly may it be said with the poet, With starry splendour on the hawthorn bough And lavish on the level turf remains In silver beauty. When the harvest is gathered in, the husbandman prepares for seed-time; and the fields are again ploughed up for the winter corn, rye, and wheat, which are sown in September and October. The entrances to bee-hives are straitened, to prevent the access of wasps and other pilferers. Description of Forest Trees. [Continued from p. 218.] OSIER.-See Willow. PINE, WEYMOUTH.-See Fir, p. 161. A a PLANE, OCCIDENTAL (p. occidentalis).—Of the plane, Dr. Aikin has given us a most pleasing description. The plane trees, as might be inferred from their names, are foreigners, and still rather the cultivated growth of our parks and gardens, than the spontaneous product of our woods. They are chiefly valued for their beauty and the luxuriance of their shade. The oriental kind, originally a native of the warm climates of Asia, was in prodigious estimation with the antients, as affording, in the highest perfection, that verdant canopy which is so grateful to those who enjoy the open air in the heats of summer. It was consecrated as well to the refreshment of the philosopher in the academic groves, as to the pleasure of the Bacchanalian, who held his revels under its shade, and, with appropriate gratitude, fed its roots with wine"." In these countries the tree grows very large, but seldom arrives at any size in England. The occidental, or North American plane, is best known to us. Both species are quick growers, and love a moist situation. The leaf of the oriental plane is pulmated, and that of the occidental divided into lobes. Both cast their bark, in scales, every year. POPLAR (populus).-Of the poplar there are thirteen species; the alba, nigra, and tremula, are natives of Great Britain. 1. The White Poplar (populus alba), or abele tree, its leaf lined with silver,' grows in hedges and brooks, where it flowers in the month of March. It delights in gravelly soils and lofty situations, though it also thrives in clayey lands. This tree is remarkable for its speedy growth, as it attains its full size in twenty years. It is advantageously employed for wainscotting and floors; as well as for packing-boxes, lathes, and turneryThe dried leaves afford excellent provender wares. • Woodland Companion, p. 57. for sheep in the winter. It bears cropping well, but its shade is unfavourable to pasture. 2. The Black Poplar (populus nigra) is distinguished, from its predecessor, by the dark green of its leaves, and because it arrives at a greater size. It grows very rapidly near rivers, and in shady, moist situations: it flowers in the month of March, and matter, occasioned by the puncture of some insect, is occasionally found on its leaves. It is very common in Lancashire and Cheshire. The wood of this species is soft, light, and not apt to splinter; when sawed into boards, and sap-dried, it is very durable. It is useful to the engraver. Its bark resembles cork, and is employed by fishermen to support their The leaves are eaten by cattle. nets. the 3. The Aspen (populus tremula) flourishes best in moist woods and grounds, though it will thrive in all other soils, excepting clays: it is in flower during the months of March and April. Its leaves destroy grass, and the numerous shoots that spring from the roots spread so near to the surface of the ground, as to prevent the vegetation of every other plant. The leaves are eaten by sheep and goats, but refused by horses and hogs; beavers eat its shoots. The bark, when young, is made into torches. The wood is extremely light, smooth, white, soft, and durable in the air; and is employed for pannels or pack-saddles, milk-pails, clogs, pattens, &c. . The tremulous motion of the aspen leaves, when agitated by the slightest breath of wind, has, doubtless, given rise to the common expression of shaking like an aspen.' One of the most interesting and popular of our modern poets has availed himself of this circumstance, in a passage which speaks to all hearts its truth and beauty: O woman, in our hours of ease And variable as the shade, By the light, quivering, aspen made, WALTER SCOTT. Among the various species of exotic poplar, cultivated in England, the Italian or Lombardy Poplar (populus fastigata) is best known. Its rapid growth renders it peculiarly fit for ornamental plantations: it flourishes best in moist situations. The wood being soft, and free from knots, is much used by joiners, carpenters, &c. The Carolina Poplar (populus balsamifera), a native of Carolina, is much cultivated in England, and well repays the expense of planting. The poplar, one of the most beautiful of the aquatic trees, has frequently been introduced into poetical description. Virgil expressly terms it the fairest growth of the rivers: and he thus describes (Æn. viii, 31) the venerable deity of the Tiber: When slow emerging through the poplar wood The white hue of its leaves, particularly remarkable in that species of poplar called the Abele, is frequently mentioned by the poets; thus, by Horace (Carm. ii, 3): Where the tall pine and poplar white It is only the underside of the leaf which has this hoary cast, though it gives a tint to the whole tree. Virgil, therefore, properly calls it the two-coloured poplar.' It was applied to the same purposes as the elm, in supporting vines, for which its height, straightness, and quick growth, rendered it equally fit: Horace (Epod ii, 9). This use of the poplar is still common in Italy, and greatly heightens the picturesque beauty of the scenery of that enchanting country. See Elm, pp. 127-129. [To be continued.] |