Conjunction of the Moon with the Planets and Stars. June 6th, with 2a in Cancer at 10 in the morning 14th ... ..... Libra..... 18 Taurus Taurus ... ..... 8 in the evening 7 a.. Taurus...... 7 in the evening Other Phenomena. Jupiter will be in opposition at a quarter past 5 in the morning of the 1st of this month. Mercury and Mars will be in conjunction with each other at 5 in the morning of the 5th. Mercury will also attain his greatest elongation on the 8th, and be stationary on the 22d. Remarkable DOUBLE STARS in the SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. Mr. James Dunlop communicated to the Astronomical Society, on the 9th of May last, a valuable memoir on the approximate places of double stars in the southern hemisphere for 1827, as observed at Paramatta. The following are a few of the most remarkable: a Crucis. This double star resembles Castor both in the magnitude of the two stars, and in their mutual distance. a Centauri. This star consists of one of the first magnitude accompanied by one of the fourth,—a combination which does not occur in our hemisphere. Their distance is about 20′′. 1x Argus. This star consists of stars of the sixth and eighth magnitudes, the large star being blue, and the small one dusky red. This is the only instance known of a combination of two considerably bright stars differing decidedly in magnitude, where a marked excess of the less refrangible rays appear in the light of the smaller star, and of the more refrangible rays in the larger one. Its right ascension is 8h 4m, and its declination 42°7' south. U Another double star, unnamed, has a deep red purple colour, which occurs also in our hemisphere. It is of the seventh magnitude, and is situated in right ascension 1h 19m 43', and declination 33° 31′ southSee Phil. Mag., July 1828. The SUNBEAM. [By Felicia Hemans. ] Thou art no lingerer in monarch's hall, I looked on the mountains-a vapour lay Thou tak'st through the dim church-isle thy way, Sunbeam of summer! oh! what is like thee? The faith touching all things with hues of heaven! The Naturalist's Diary For JUNE 1829. At this sweet time, the glory of the spring, Awakening freshest fragrance as they pass; SUPPOSING the weather to have been mild and favourable to vegetation, the flower-garden is in all its glory at the commencement of June; and nothing can be more delightful than to observe the almost countless varieties which grace the parterre of Flora at this season. Among the various ornaments of the garden, 'THE ROSE,' that queen of flowers, stands pre-eminent. The Austrian rose blossoms in the early part of the month, as does also the Chinese rose: these are followed by the common garden rose, the single yellow rose, and the white rose; last of all comes that loveliest of floral attractions,—the 'Moss ROSE'. They may talk of their flowers, and the crimson that blushes, The Queen of the garden, the rose on its tree ;— But while I'm possessed of thy innocent blushes, I care for none else—they're the roses for me. They may talk of their diamond, that beams in the mineIt sparkling, and glowing, and brilliant may be; But while thy dear eyes with benevolence shine, I care for none else-they're the diamonds for me. They may talk, if they will, of their Venus, resplendent MARY ANNE BROWNE. Marigolds, and peonies, and roses, including the guelder-rose, with its balls of dazzling whiteness, now display their beauties. The Star of Bethlehem shines in all its splendour, and pinks and sweet-william add their pretty colours: the panicled lychnidea and red valerian ornament our gardens at this period, the delicate lilac of the one forming a pleasing contrast with the rich crimson of the other. The blossoms of the sweet-brier are now open: the white lily, and the flower-de-luce, or iris, with its splendid floscules and curiously-formed pistils, shine in the garden. The forget-me-not (Myosotis palustris) also flowers in June, and throughout the summer. In this month, the gum-cistus tribe shed daily their abundant flowers, covering the ground with their delicate blossoms. The fragrant honeysuckle gives out its charming perfume. I dearly loved a garden-flower, Which near my summer casement grew; Many a time, with fond delight, I've bent its faultless form above, And kissed its leaves, and deemed it might The autumn winds blew high, and bore I mourned it's fate an hour or more, The minstrel of an orange grove, But one night to my window came And tones that hung upon my name My bird's notes were less pleasant far! I gave the warbler leave to go, In freedom, to his native grove, Thou wert not meant to be my love!' W. KENNEDY. One of the most interesting insects in June, îs, in its perfect state, the angler's may-fly. Y Sir H. Davy, in his Salmonia, gives an interesting account of water-flies. Even in December and January there are a few small gnats, or water-flies, on the water in the middle of the day, in bright days, or when there is sunshine. These are generally black, and they escape the influence of the frost by the effects of light on their black bodies, and probably by the extreme rapidity of the motions of their fluids, and generally of their organs. They are found only at the surface of the water, where the temperature must be above the freezing point. In February, a few double-winged water-flies, which swim down the stream, are usually found in the middle of the day, such as the willow-fly; and the cow-dung-fly is sometimes carried on the water by winds. In March there are several flies found on most rivers. The grannam, or green-tail-fly, with a wing like a moth, comes on generally morning and evening, from five till eight o'clock, A.M. in mild weather, in the end of March and through April. Then there are the blue and the brown, both ephemera, which come on, the first in dark days, the second in bright days; these flies, when well imitated, are very destructive to fish. The first is a small fly, with a palish yellow body, and slender, beautiful wings, which rest on the back as it floats down the water. The second, called the cob in Wales, is three or four times as large, and has brown wings, which likewise protrude from the back, and its wings are shaded like those of a partridge, brown and yellow |