las, daphnes, lychnis, sweet-williams, poppies, roses, and œnotheras, are common.

The

JULY was named by Mark Anthony in memory of Julius Cæsar, who was born in this month (formerly called Quintilis), and by whom the calendar was reformed. Saxons called it Hew or Hey-monath, the hay-month, because it was their month for mowing their meadows and making hay.

In the beginning of July the bright star Sirius, in the constellation Canis Major, the great dog, rises with the sun. From this the days between July 3d and August 11th are called "dog-days."

C

July is generally the hottest month in the year; and there are often storms, with thunder and lightning, which, although mischief is sometimes done by them, are frequently of great use.

Swallows, martins, and swifts, now generally flock together before leaving this country. Young partridges are found among the corn. The poultry moult, or change their feathers; but smaller birds, such as sparrows, linnets, &c. do not lose their plumage so soon.

In this month more insects are seen than in any other part of the year. Numbers of gnats, flies, beetles, frogs, and other reptiles, come into active life, and are seen in swarms in houses, gardens, and fields. The trees are full of fern-chaffers; and the fern-owl, or goat-sucker, may often be seen in the evening, wheeling round, and darting among the branches in search of them. Bees now drive away or kill the drones; and male and female ants are driven from their nests by the workers. The females lay their eggs in holes in the ground: these are hatched before winter, when the mother dies, and the other ants become torpid.

Many fish are now in season; and the salmon is caught in numbers in the north of England and Scotland. It is hunted by torch-light, and killed with spears; and caught in nets and traps, and with the fly. Mackerel are abundant; and about the middle of the month pilchards are seen in shoals off the coasts of Cornwall; and many boats are employed in this fishery.

The hay-harvest is generally ended in July; flax and hemp are pulled, and dairy-cares continue; turnips and

potatoes are hoed; field-peas gathered for market; hops and trees pruned; and plants must be watered and freed from weeds, grass mown, &c. July is not so rich in flowers as May and June; but the water-lily, the hemlock, flax, wild clematis, pimpernel, blue-bell, and convolvulus make the fields and roadsides gay. In the gardens are pinks, nasturtiums, hollyhocks, lilies, sun-flowers, lupines, china asters, marigolds, yellow roses, mignionette, &c. &c.; and currants, gooseberries, cherries, cranberries, &c. are ripe, and very refreshing in this hot month.

AUGUST is so named after Augustus, or Octavius Cæsar, who completed the changes begun in the calendar by Julius Cæsar. Before this it had been called Sextilis, or the sixth

month (March being the first month in the old calendar of the year). The Saxons called it Arn or Barn-monath, the barn-month, because in August their harvest (or arn) was generally got in, and their barns filled.

The first of August is called Lammas-day; either from the Saxon custom of offering loaves of new wheat, from which it was called Loaf-mass; or that of Roman Catholics, of offering young lambs at the altars of their cathedrals on this day. From the wool of these lambs was made the pallium, or pall, a consecrated robe sent by the Pope to those whom he made cardinals or archbishops.

August is generally our quietest month; and in the beginning of it there is frequently very fine weather. The sun is very hot; but we are refreshed by abundance of dew. The moon is particularly beautiful in this month, and is called "the harvest-moon," because, in the harvest-season, she rises, for a week, when she is full, sooner after sunset than at any other time of the year.

The swift, puffin, cuckoo, turtle-dove, and wryneck leave us about the middle of the month; and the sanderling, mountain-finch, siskin, crossbeak, gulls, godwits, and plovers arrive. Rooks begin to roost in their nest-trees; and young broods of goldfinches appear. Lapwings and linnets are seen in flocks; and the red breast is heard towards the end of the month. Insects still continue to swarm flies, moths, beetles, crickets, and glow-worms are numerous; grasshoppers, locusts, and some splendid butterflies are to be seen, particularly the swallow-tailed

butterfly, the red admiral, peacock, Camberwell beauty, painted lady, and clouded-sulphur butterflies.

August is the great harvest-month. Rye and oats are the first to ripen; and are followed by wheat and barley. The hop-harvest now begins; hay-ricks are thatched ; fieldpeas and beans gathered; and meadows watered before the corn-harvest is begun, which occupies all hands. Crowds may now be seen in the fields; some cutting down corn by the scythe or sickle, others binding it into sheaves, and women and children gleaning. A supper is generally given to the labourers when the last load is carried in, called the " harvest-home."

The flowers which bloomed in the last two months are now running to seed; but heaths, ferns, rue, and saffron are in flower, and our commons are in great beauty. Our gardens have still sun-flowers, marigolds, chrysanthemums, lilies, asters, dahlias, &c.; and fruits in abundance, such as plums, peaches, nectarines, figs, and grapes.