the hazel-nut and many others by the same name The body of these larvæ is composed of twelve joints, which run tapering towards the head; the head itself is small; the mouth is armed with a hard and pointed kind of dart, contained within a case notched on the fore part, which serves it instead of jaws. These larvæ have four breathing holes, two of which are placed anteriorly, one on each side; the two others at the extremity of the body; they have no visible eyes. The habitation of these larve varies according to the different species of flies to which they belong. Many of them have also some peculiarities which deserve notice. There are some which are found on trees and plants, feeding on and making great havock among the aphides, or plant-lice, the most destructive insect which can infest any tree or plant, and the most common cause of what are called blights. These have a long body, capable of still greater extension; they stretch out their heads; and, in default of eyes, which they appear to want, seem to use it to feel for and seize the aphides: when they have found one of them, they pierce it with the dart at their mouth, then draw it within the second ring of their body, and at their ease swallow their prey; and thus they continue devouring them one after another.-As these larvæ feed solely on aphides, some naturalists have called the flies which they produce muscæ aphidivoræ, or aphis-eaters. As the female of the common house-fly is capable of producing 20 millions 80 thousand 320, we cannot wonder at their swarming so much in autumn'. The apis manicata, or solitary bee, and the white See an interesting paper on the Genus Musca, by the late W. Curtis, in the Monthly Magazine for 1814, vol. xxxviii, p. 402. X moth (phalana pacta), are observed in this month. The ptinus pectinicornis also makes its appearance. The larvae of this insect are very destructive to wooden furniture, boring holes in tables, chairs, bedposts, &c.;-they are much inclined to deposit their eggs in beech, hence this wood is less. fit for the manufacture of domestic utensils. If their eggs are deposited on the surface, frequent rubbing will preserve wooden furniture. The southern counties of England, particularly Surrey and Kent, yield their valuable produce of hops in this month. The hop is a most useful plant: in its wild state it is relished by cows, horses, goats, sheep, and swine. When cultivated, its young tops are eaten, early in the spring, as substitutes for asparagus, being wholesome and apericnt. Its principal use, however (if brewers could be made honest), would be in brewing malt liquors, communicating a fine bitter flavour to our beer, and causing it to keep longer than it now does. Hops also serve some important purposes in medicine." Towards the end of the month, the wild orach (chenopodium album), the wild clary (salvia verbenaca), the sweet gale (myrica gale), the golden rod (senecio paludosus), the milk-thistle (carduus marianus), and ladies-traces (ophrys spiralis), have their flowers in full bloom. Several maritime plants flower this month ;-glasswort (salicornia herbacea), and grass-wrack (zostera marina), on sea coasts; the samphire (crithmum maritimum), and the asparagus officinalis among rocks. On sandy shores may be seen the sea campion, or catchfly (silene maritima), sea spurge (euphorbia paralia), and lavender cotton (santolina maritima). On sea shores are found the sea-stock (cheiranthus sinuatus), and sea wormwood (artemisia maritima). Description of Forest Trees. [Continued from p. 218.] OAK (quercus robur).-England may well take pride in her oaks! To them is she indebted for her existence as a nation; and, were the English an idolatrous people, we should be almost tempted to recommend (in imitation of our Druidical ancestors, who imagined sanctity in their oaks') that this tree be received in the number of our gods. Could a mind, imbued With truth from heav'n, created things adore, We might, with rev'rence, kneel and worship thee'. May this be indelibly written on the heart of every Englishman! May we never forget our OAKS! our unwedgeable and gnarled oaks! However brilliant the achievements of a WELLINGTON, let memory for ever cherish the recollection of a NELSON! a name by all its country's wishes blest.' Let us not consign to cold neglect' the defenders of our surest bulwarks, our wooden walls:' one command they have always fulfilled-the sublime command of their brave chieftain, England expects that every man will do his duty.' No species of wood it is supposed, at least no species of timber, is possessed of hardness and toughness united (the teak, perhaps, excepted) in so great a degree as the British oak. Almost all arts and manufactures are indebted to it; but in ship-building, and bearing burdens, its elasticity and strength are applied to most advantage. It is not the erect, stately tree, that is the most useful in ship-building; but, more often, the crooked one, forming short turns and elbows, which the shipwrights and carpenters commonly call knee-timber. The Arcadians worshipped the oak; and a crown of oak leaves was the reward of the man who saved the life of a citizen. The rapid consumption of oak-timber, and the gradual disappearance of forest after forest, will, we trust, call the attention of every gentleman of great landed property, but more particularly of government, to the plantation and growth of this useful tree. England may yet want her oaks! May we ever say with the poet to many a Yardley Oak :— At thy firmest age Thou hadst within thy bole, solid contents, That might have ribbed the sides and planked the deck And, yet, this veteran of the forest, which had braved the inclemency of so many winters, was but a bauble once, a cup and ball, Which babes might play with; and the thievish jay, COWPER. The genus quercus consists of twenty-nine species, two of which are indigenous to England. The quercus robur, or common oak, flourishes better in hilly than in swampy ground; but grows best on rich black soils, or in strong moist loams; and, while it is young, in large plantations. It is generally propagated by sowing acorns: man, however, is not the only grower of oaks; birds and squirrels are instrumental in sowing acorns 2. This tree is remarkable for the slowness of its growth, its great bulk, and longevity. The trunk, it has been observed, attains in general only fourteen inches in diameter in the course of eighty years; but, after arriving at a certain age, its bulk rapidly increases. Oaks have obtained an immense age and size. The Magdalen Oak, which grew close by the gate of This is particularly the case in Wales, where many an oak tree has recently groaned its last.' 2 See T. T. for 1814, p. 270. the water-walk in that college at Oxford, survived nine hundred years; but this is not an extraordinary age for an oak. Tradition traces the age of the Fairlop Oak half-way up the Christian era. It is a very noble tree, and, though fast verging to decay, its branches overspread an area of nearly three hundred feet in circumference: the girth of the stem is thirtysix feet'. At Worksop grew an oak, whose branches covered the space of ninety feet. The circumference of Damory's Oak, near Blandford, was sixty-eight feet at the ground, and seventeen feet above the ground its diameter was four yards. Among other celebrated oaks, may be named Hern's Oak, in Windsor Forest, the Haveringham Oak, &c. There is now an oak at Blenheim, supported by props, which has stood, at the least, eight hundred years. The Swilcar Oak, in Needwood Forest, measures thirteen yards in circumference at its base, eleven yards round at the height of four feet from the earth, and is believed to be six hundred years old. It is situated in an open lawn, surrounded by extensive woods. The large Golenos Oak, which was felled in the year 1810 for the use of his Majesty's navy, grew about four miles from the town of Newport, in Monmouthshire; the main trunk, at ten feet long, produced 450 cubic feet; one limb 355, one ditto 472, one ditto 235, one ditto 156, one ditto 106, one ditto 113, and six other limbs of inferior size averaged ninety-three feet each, making the whole num To such a tree as this, Spenser's beautiful description may well be applied : A huge oak, dry and dead, And half disbowelled stands above the ground, |