The Work Of Nature In The Months.

failed to notice amongst the insects , the really splendid Peacock Butterfly . Like the Scarlet Admiral , it leaves the chrysalis state in autumn , flutters awhile in the lessening rays of the sun , until some colder day than any it has hitherto experienced ,

warns it to seek a winter refuge . This found , it hangs suspended until the spring , when with wings tattered and torn , and its beauty well-nigh lost , it emerges into the daylight , to carry out what seems , to us , to he the only object of its insect lifethe

, starting its progeny in the world . Oddly enough , the jilace selected for rearing the young brood is the uninteresting Stingingnettle . Other Butterflies are the Small

Heath , and the Pale Clouded Yellow en Clouded Saffron ; which latter insect much affects the neighbourhoods of Deal and Eeeulvers . During this month , we find some of our finest Moths ; the Privet Hawk Mothwith its handsome green

, caterpillar purple striped ; the Sword-grass Moth , whose caterpillar is a splendid creature , green grounded , striped with white and scarlet and with a double row

of eight little dots of white edged with black ; finest of all is the Death ' s Head Moth , whose jmpa is found amongst the potato-crop . This month , too , appear other remarkable forms of insect life—such as the Great Green Grasshojiperand a kind

, called the Wart-biter ; these little creatures skould be handled discreetly , for they possess jaws which are sharp and powerful , if small , which , too , they do not scruple to use .

Now are leaving us the Whitethroat , the Ni ght-jar , and the Fly-catchers , both pied and spotted ; whilst the arrivals we are peculiarl y able to notice for they are mostl y sea-birds , although it is true that ooth the Common and Jack Snipe now

make their apjiearance . One bird does | iis best to make up for the departure of ws fellow vocalists , the Woodlark ; and , soaring above the trees , the Wood Owl prises his hoarse hoot , warning us that it 18 hi gh time to return .

Retracing , then , our steps , for it is getting late , we observe in the hedgerow tta trails of the beautiful wild Hop , of * liich we will reserve further mention Until we notice its cultivated variety , and 1 Ve see , too , in sheltered spots the second crop of flowers of the wild Honeysuckle , ilany berry-bearing shrubs would tempt

The Work Of Nature In The Months.

us to linger to observe and describe their autumnal beauties , but we may only notice one , which warns us that we are drawing nigh to the sea once more , and that is the Sea Buckthorn or Sallow Thorn . This singular-looking shrub is restricted in its

range of growth to the East and South East Coast of England , being rarely seen beyond Yarmouth and Cromer Northwards , and Folkestone and Deal in a Southerly direction . It has thorny branchesremarkable silvery leavesvery

, , white on the underside , and minute inconspicuous flowers , which have by this time , given place on the female plants to fine orange-coloured fruit or berries , which make a , fine show all through the winter if not taken by the birds . These berries are

said to be pleasantly acid to the taste , but should be experimented upon with caution , as in some parts they bear the reputation of being in some degree poisonous . ' For a moment , our attention is once more drawn to a huse cluster of Golden

Rod , for as the Sun is setting , hundreds of bees are swarming over the plant , availing themselves not only of the last few minutes of sunshine to make one more honey-laden journey , but making too best use of these last few days of warmth to

complete their winter stock from this plant , which Nature seems to have speciall y designed to afford , thus late , material for filling up the last empty spaces in their food-stores , which must last them till the warm bright sunshine comes another year .

This lesson should not be lost upon us , enforced as it is just at this moment that we once more catch sight of the sea , by the splendid harvest moonrising apparently from its depths . Does it not speak to us with its substituted light , of a certain

substituted knowledge that we must cultivate here , if we would be possessors of the true knowledge into which that other shall be developed , if it shall have been ri ghtly used , in the hereafter by the Great Architect of the Universe Himself .

Upbraid Me Not.

UPBRAID ME NOT .

UPBRAID me not , if now forgetting Thy friendly face , I turn to-day To other claims and other duties And let the old past drift away .