Before storms kine and also sheep assemble at one corner of the field, and are observed to turn all their heads toward the quarter from whence the wind doth not blow. The appearance of sea gulls, petrels, or other sea fowl in the inlands, indicates stormy weather. In fine weather the bat is observed to continue flying about very late of an evening. In autumn before rain some flies bite, and others become very troublesome, and gnats are more apt to sting. When flocks of wild geese are observed flying in a westward or southern direction in autumn, it indicates a hard winter. The floating of gossamer, and its alighting on the rigging of ships, foretels fine weather. The clamorous croaking of frogs indicates rainy weather. The appearance of beetles flying about of an evening in summer, indicates that the next day will be fair. Before rain dogs are apt to grow very sleepy and dull, and to lay all day before the fire. Before rain moles throw up the earth more than usual. The appearance of rare foreign birds in this country, such as rollers, hoopoos, &c. indicates hard weather. When spiders are seen crawling on the walls more than usual, rain will probably ensue. The much barking of dogs in the night frequently indicates a change in the weather. When the trees and hedges are very full of berries, it indicates a hard winter. The abundance of woodseare and honeydew on herbs indicates fair weather, as does floating gossamer. It is said in Wiltshire, that the dunpickles or moor buzzards alight in great numbers on the downs before rain. Before storms the missel thrush is observed to sing particularly loud, and to continue so till the commencement of the rain; from which e cumstance it is in some places called the storm cock. It is a sign of rain when pigeons return slowly to the dovehouses. When bees do not go out as usual, but keep in or about their hives, rain may be expected. Before wind, swine run squeaking about as though they were mad; which has given rise to the notion that pigs can see the wind. Before rain the pintados called comebacks squall more than usual; as do peacocks. The early appearance of woodcocks, snipes, swinepipes, fieldfares, &c. are prognostications of severe winters. When the dew lies plenteously upon the grass in the evening, the next day will probably be fine; when there is little or no dew, probably wet. Dr. Forster observes, on the authority of Virgil," that the blowing about of feathers, or any light substances on the water, is also a sign of rain." SPRING. In the "Indicator" Mr. Leigh Hunt discourses of this beautiful season with his usual grace. He says "The spring is now complete. The winds have done their work. The shaken air, well tempered and equalized, has subsided; the genial rains, however thickly they may come, do not saturate the ground, beyond the power of the sun to dry it up again. There are clear crystal mornings; noons of blue sky and white cloud; nights, in which the growing moon seems to lie looking at the stars, like a young shepherdess at her flock. most apt and perfect mark of the season, "Then the young green. This is the the true issuing forth of the spring. The trees and bushes are putting forth their crisp fans; the lilac is loaded with bud; the meadows are thick with the bright young grass, running into sweeps of white and gold with the daisies and riches, in a shower of silver blossoms. buttercups. The orchards announce their The earth in fertile woods is spread with yellow and blue carpets of primroses, violets, and hyacinths, over which the birch-trees, like stooping nyinphs, hang with their thickening hair. Lilies of the valley, stocks, columbines, lady-smocks, and the intensely red piony which seems to anticipate the full glow of summertime, all come out to wait upon the season, like fairies from their subterraneous palaces." FLORAL DIRECTORY. Cowslip. Primula Veris. Dedicated to St. Catharine of Sienna So hath "divinest Spenser" represented the fifth month of the year, in the grand pageant which, to all who have seen it, is still present; for neither the laureate's office nor the poet's art hath devised a spectacle more gorgeous. Castor and Pollux, the twinnes of Leda," who appeared to sailors in storms with lambeut fires on their heads, mythologists have constellated in the firmament, and made still propitious to the mariner. Maia, the brightest of the Pleiades, from whom some say this month derived its name, is Spenser. fabled to have been the daughter of Atlas, the supporter of the world, and Pleione, a sea-nymph. Others ascribe its name to its having been dedicated by Romaius tr the Majores, or Roman senators. Verstegan affirms of the Anglo-Saxons, that "the pleasant moneth of May they termed by the name of Trimilki, because in that moneth they began to milke their kine three times in the day." Scarcely a poet but praises, or describes or alludes to the beauties of this month, Darwin sings it as the offspring of the star beams, and invites it to approach and receive the greetings of the elementa belgs: Born in yon blaze of orient sky, Sweet May! thy radiant form unfold; Unclose thy blue voluptuous eye, And wave thy shadowy locks of gold. For thee the fragrant zephyrs blow, For thee descends the sunny shower; The rills in softer murmurs flow, And brighter blossoms gem the bower. Light Graces dress'd in flowery wreaths, And tiptoe Joys their hands combine; And Love his sweet contagion breathes, And laughing dances round thy shrine. Song on May Morning. Now the bright morning star, day's harbinger, With exquisite feeling and exuberant grace he derives Mirth from The frolic wind that breathes the spring -beds of violets blue, ingale warbling on a "bloomy spray" at eve, while, as he figures, "The jolly hours lead on propitious May In "a Conversational Poem written in A balmy night! and tho' the stars be dim, -I know a grove Thin grass and king-cups grow within the paths That should you close your eyes, you might almost Whose dewy leafits are but half disclos'd, You may perchance behold them on the twigs, Their bright, bright eyes, their eyes both bright and full ———Oft, a moment's space, What time the moon was lost behind a cloud. On blos❜my twig, still swinging from the breeze, May 1. St. Philip, and St. James the less. St. St. Philip and St. James. Calendar. And such, when heaven with penal flame Hail! thou, the fleet year's pride and prime! Buchanan, by Langhorne. In behalf of this ancient festival, a noble authoress contributes a little "forget me not:" The First of May Colin met Sylvia on the green, Once on the charming first of May, And shepherds ne'er tell false I ween, Yet 'twas by chance the shepherds say Colin he bow'd and blush'd, then said, Will you, sweet maid, this first of May Begin the dance by Colin led, To make this quite his holiday? Sylvia replied, I ne'er from home It is most fit, replied the youth, Lady Craven, "We call," says Mr. Leigh Ilunt"we call upon the admirers of the good and beautiful to help us in rescuing nature from obloquy.' All you that are lovers of nature in books,-lovers of music, painting, and poetry,-lovers of sweet sounds, and odours, and colours, and all the eloquent and happy face of the rural world with its eyes of sunshine, -you, that are lovers of your species, of youth, and health, and old age,-of manly strength in the manly, of nymphlike graces in the female,—of air, of exercise, of happy currents in your veins, of the light in great Nature's picture,-of all the gentle spiriting, the loveliness, the luxury, that now stands under the smile of heaven, silent and solitary as your fellow-creatures have left it,-go forth on May-day, or on the earliest fine May morning, if that be not fine, and pluck your flowers and your green boughs to adorn your rooms with, and to show that you do not live in vain. These April rains (for May has not yet come, accordng to the old style, which is the proper This was the great rural festival of our forefathers. Their hearts responded merrily to the cheerfulness of the season. At the dawn of May morning the lads and lasses left their towns and villages, and repairing to the woodlands by sound of music, they gathered the May, or blossomed branches of the trees, and bound them with wreaths of flowers; then returning to their homes by sunrise, they decorated the lattices and doors with the sweetsmelling spoil of their joyous journey, and spent the remaining hours in sports and pastimes. Spenser's "Shepherd's Calendar" poetically records these customs in a beautiful eclogue: Youths folke now flocken in every where To gather May - buskets, and smelling breere; And home they hasten, the postes to dight, And all the kirke pillers, ere daylight, With hawthorne buds, and sweet eglantine, And girlonds of roses, and soppes in wine. maide. all, To see these folkes make such jovisaunce, Forbear censure, gentle readers and kind hearers, for quotations from poets, Examir.er 1818. |