a different situation, and yet the latter as well as the former shall be above the horizon in the same hemisphere; and in this respect the solar differ from the lunar eclipses, which are the same to all the inhabitants of the earth.

We often see, says La Place, the shadow of a cloud, transported by the winds, rapidly pass over hills and valleys, depriving those spectators which it reaches of the light of the Sun that others are enjoying; this is the exact image of a total eclipse of the Sun. A profound night, which, under favourable circumstances, may last from four to five minutes, accompanies these eclipses; the sudden disappearance of the Sun, with the solemn darkness that succeeds, fills all animals with dread; the stars, which had been effaced by the light of the day, show themselves in full lustre, and the heaven resembles the most profound night: round the lunar disk, a crown of pale light has been perceived, which is thought to be the solar atmosphere, for its extent cannot accord with the Moon, as it has been ascertained, by eclipses of the Sun and stars, that the lunar atmosphere is nearly insensible.

The Moon does not entirely disappear in its eclipse, but is still enlightened by a very faint light that comes to it by the Sun's rays inflected through the terrestrial atmosphere; and but for the great absorption of these rays by our atmosphere, its brightness would be more vivid than when at the full Moon. We may sometimes distinguish, particularly about the time of new Moon, that part of the lunar disk which is not enlightened by the Sun: this feeble light is the effect of the light which the illuminated hemisphere of the earth reflects upon the Moon: what proves this is, that it is most sensible at the time of new Moon, when the greatest part of this hemisphere is directed to the Moon; for it is clear that, to a spectator in the Moon, the earth will present a succession of phases, similar to that which

the Moon presents to us, but accompanied by a much more intense light, from the greater extent of the terrestrial surface.

Mountains of a great height rise up from the surface of the Moon; their shadows, projected on the plains, form spots which vary with the position of the Sun: upon the edge of the enlightened disk we see these mountains forming an indented border, extending beyond the line of light by a quantity, which lead to conclusions respecting their real height above the surface. We recognize likewise, by the direction of the shadows, that the surface is broken by cavities, nearly resembling the basons of our seas. Lastly, the lunar surface seems to exhibit traces of volcanoes: several observers have occasionally seen upon the unenlightened part a vivid light, which they have attributed to a volcanic eruption, and hence the formation of several new lunar spots has been accounted for.

The Naturalist's Diary.

Crowned with a wreath of lilies, breathing cool
Their fragrance o'er his throbbing temples, comes
JULY, with languid step, and, panting, asks
The shade refreshful, and the dropping fount.

THIS month is, generally, accounted the hottest in the year. In consequence of the excessive heat, an evaporation takes place from the surface of the earth and waters, and large clouds are formed, which pour down their watery stores, and deluge the country with floods; frequently laying the full-grown corn. These summer storms are generally attended by thunder and lightning. During the intense heat of this month, we eagerly seek the luxury of cooling shades. Bathing, too, is both agreeable and healthful at this time:

The pool transparent to its pebbly bed,
With here and there a slowly-gliding trout,

Invites the throbbing, half reluctant, breast
To plunge

-Sinooth, in sinuous course, the swimmer winds,
Now, with extended arms, rowing his way;

And now, with sunward face, he floating lies.

Animals are oppressed with universal languor, and either bend their way to pools of water, the coverts of the forest, or to any place that will shade them from the almost vertical Sun. In a hot summer's noon, The daw,

The rook and magpie, to the grey-grown oaks
That the calm village in their verdant arms,
Sheltering, embrace, direct their lazy flight;
Where on the mingling boughs they sit embowered,
All the hot noon, till cooler hours arise.

Faint, underneath, the household fowls convene;
And in a corner of the buzzing shade,

The house-dog, with the vacant greyhound, lies
Outstretched and sleepy. In his slumbers, one
Attacks the nightly thief, and one exults

O'er hill and dale; till, wakened by the wasp,
They, starting, snap.

The flowers, which blossomed in the last month. soon mature their seeds, and hasten to decay. A new race succeeds, which demands all the fervid rays of a solstitial Sun to bring it to perfection.

At the beginning of the month, the beech (fagus sylvatica), the wild carrot (daucus carrota), the calathian violet (gentiana pneumonanthe), betony, nightshade (circæa lutetiana), lavender (lavendula spica), and the wild angelica (angelica sylvestris), have their flowers full blown; and the flowers of the white lily (lilium candidum) begin to open: the thistle, sowthistle, hawkweed, blue bottle (centaurea cyanus), marygold, golden rod, camomile, and sunflower; the whole race of sedums and cotyledons; and the aquatic and marsh plants, as bulrush, water-lily, &c. flourish this month.

The different tribes of insects, which, for the most part, are hatched in the spring, are now in full vigour; but the plenitude of their enjoyment is limited indeed, for they die at the approach of winter.

Poor insect! what a little day
Of sunny bliss is thine!

And yet thou spread'st thy light wings gay,
And bid'st them, spreading, shine.

Thou humm'st thy short and busy tune,
Unmindful of the blast;

And careless, while 'tis burning noon,
How quick that noon be past.
A show'r would lay thy beauty low;
A dew of twilight be

The torrent of thy overthrow,
Thy storm of destiny!

Then spread thy little shining wing,
Hum on thy busy lay!

For man, like thee, has but his spring;
Like thine, it fades away!

MRS. ROBINSON.

The first state in which insects appear is that of the ovum, or egg; from the egg is hatched the insect in its larve or caterpillar state. The larva, or maggot, crawls on many feet, and is extremely voracious, devouring the herbage, and stripping trees of their leaves. When the time arrives in which the larva or caterpillar is to change into the next state, viz. that of chrysalis, or pupa, it ceases to feed; and, having placed itself in some quiet situation for the purpose, lies still for several hours; and then, by a kind of laborious effort, frequently repeated, divests itself of its external skin, or larva coat, and immediately appears in the very different form of a chrysalis or pupa. From this state emerges, at length, the insect, in its complete or ultimate form, from which it can never change; nor can it receive any further increase of growth. This last state is denominated imago.

Insects now swarm in every part of creation. The following lines beautifully describe their various haunts:

To sunny waters some

By fatal instinct fly; where on the pool

They, sportive, wheel; or, sailing down the stream,
Are snatched immediate by the quick-eyed trout,
Or darting salmon. Thro' the greenwood glade

Some love to stray; there lodged, amused and fed,
In the fresh leaf. Luxurious, others make
The meads their choice, and visit ev'ry flow'r,
And ev'ry latent herb. Some to the house,
The fold, and dairy, hungry, bend their flight;
Sip round the pail, or taste the curdling cheese.

THOMSON.

Towards the middle of the month, the potato (solanum tuberosum), the spiked willow (spirea salicifolia), jessamine (jasminum officinale), hyssop (hyssopus officinalis), the bell-flower (campanula), and the white lily, have their flowers full blown.

Pomona now begins to offer her fruits, to allay the parching thirst; currants, gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, and cranberries, are all peculiarly refreshing at this season. But of the luscious fruits of warmer climates we must be satisfied with the poet's description, exclaiming with him,

Bear me to the citron groves;

To where the lemon and the piercing lime,
With the deep orange, glowing thro' the green,
Their lighter glories blend. Lay me reclined
Beneath the spreading tamarind that shakes,
Fanned by the breeze, its fever-cooling fruit.
Deep in the night the massy locust sheds,
Quench my hot limbs; or lead me through the maze,
Embowering endless, of the Indian fig;
Or thrown at gayer ease, on some fair brow,
Let me behold, by breezy murmurs cooled,
Broad o'er my head the verdant cedar wave,
And high palmettoes lift their graceful shade.
O stretched amid these orchards of the sun,
Give me to drain the cocoa's milky bowl,

And from the palm to draw its freshening wine!

Towards the end of the month, the flowers of the laurustinus (viburnum tinus), and the burdock (arctium lappa), begin to open; and the elecampane (inula helenium), the amaranth (amaranthus caudatus), the great water plantain (alisma plantago), water mint (mentha aquatica), and the common nightshade, have their flowers full blown.

Young frogs leave their ponds, and resort to the