she has done that, she dwells under it, in a commodious and dry retreat, in the very midst of the water.

ANNA-I suppose you referred to the feet of flies when you spoke of air pumps.

PAPA-No; I had an insect in view, the caterpillar of a little moth, which knows how to imitate this machine, and can produce a vacuum, when necessary for its purposes, without any piston besides its own body. And now, Anna, I hope I have fulfilled my task to your satisfaction.

!

ANNA.—O, quite, papa; and I am very much obliged to you.

PAPA. You will agree with me, I think, that the habitations of insects evince far greater sagacity than those of most other animals. If I had time I could amuse you much longer with accounts of them. I must, however, just advert to the numerous galls, which are formed by the insertion of the eggs of the different species of Cynips or gall-flies on the leaves, stalks, roots, and even buds of plants, and which become the habitations of their larvæ. They assume the most whimsical forms, and produce various excrescences, which puzzled some of the old botanists not a little. Among these excrescences is the rose of the rose-willow, which Gerard describes as "not only making a gallant shew, but also yeelding a most cooling aire in the heat of summer, being set up in houses for the decking of the same." This willow is nothing more than one of the common kind, whose twigs, in consequence of the deposition of the egg of a Cynip in their summits, shoot out there into numerous leaves, not unlike the flower of a rose. And from the same cause the twigs of the common wild rose often throw out a beautiful tuft of numerous: reddish, moss-like fibres, wholly dissimilar from the leaves of the plant. Among the habitations of insects too I ought not to forget the little circular holes frequently to be seen in old furniture, which are excavated by the larve of a species of the Anobia or timber-boring beetles, nor the white

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DESCRIPTION OF BRITISH TREES.

349

zig-zag lines often observable on the leaves of the dandelion, bramble, and numerous other plants; which are caused by the parenchyma, or pulpy substance of the leaf, having been eaten away by the little caterpillar which inhabits them. But for information on all these, and numerous other particulars well worth your knowing, you must read and inquire for yourself. Z. Z.

DESCRIPTION OF BRITISH TREES.
No. XII.

Wild Cherry-Prunus Cerasus.

THE Cherry is generally considered as among the British Trees, being very frequently found in the wild state. It is probable, however, that it was not a native of England originally; but has become indigenous by the stones being scattered abroad from the Cherries of the garden. It is botanically a Prunus, Plum, of the Class Icosandria Monogynia, and of the same Genus as the Plums, Sloes, &c.

"It loves a sandy soil and an elevated situation. The gum that exudes from this tree is equal to Gum Arabic. Haselquoit relates that one hundred men, during a siege, were kept alive for more than two months, without any other sustenance than a little of this gum taken into the mouth sometimes, and suffered gradually to dissolve. The common people eat the fruit either fresh or dried; and it is frequently infused in brandy for the sake of its flavour. The wood is hard and tough. It is used by the turner, and is formed into chairs, and stained to imitate mahogany. This tree is the original stock from which many of the cultivated kinds are derived."-LINN.

This tree is very proper to plant in parks, because it grows to a large size, and makes a very beautiful appearance. In the Spring, when in full flower, it is highly ornamental. It thrives in poor land much better than most other sorts. The French often plant it for avenues to their houses. They also cultivate it in their woods for hoops, for which purpose they esteem it much. In Scotland, this tree is called the Geen Tree."-HUNTER.

"I rank this amongst the forest berry-bearing trees, frequent in the hedges and growing wild in Herefordshire and many places; for I speak not here of our orchard Cherries, said to have been brought into Kent out of Flanders, by Henry VIII. They will thrive in Hh

VOL. VI.

stately trees, beautified with blossoms of surprising whiteness, greatly relieving the sedulous bee, and attracting birds."—EVELYN.

Of the beauty of our garden Cherry Trees, and the variety and excellence of their fruits, we need not to be informed. The Cherry is said to have been first brought into Italy from the East.

"On celebre à Hambourg, à des certaines époques, une fête appelée la fête des cerises; pendant cette solenité, on promène des troupes d'enfans dans les rues, et chaque enfant tient un rameau vert et des cerises. Voici l'origine de cette fête. En 1432, les Hussites menacèrent la ville de Hambourg d'une destruction prochaine. Un bourgeois, nommé Wolf, proposa d'envoyer en députation suppliante aux ennemis, tous les enfants de sept à quatorze ans, enveloppés dans les draps mortuaires. Procope Nasus, chef des Hussites, fut touché de ce spectacle; il accueillit ces jeunes suppliants, les régala avec cerises et d'autres fruits, et leur promit d'épargner la ville, ce qu'il fit en effet. Les enfants revinrent couronnés de feuillages, tenant des cerises et en criant victoire. La fête fut instituée en souvenir de cet évènement."-GENLIS.

HYMNS AND POETICAL RECREATIONS.

THE SABBATH'S RETURN.

HAIL to thee, Day of Pleasure, Day of Love!

Brightly descending from above,

With so much of Heaven itself upon thy wing,
As is in the bright glistening

Of the first morning dew-drops of the beam
That shines upon it with so rich a stream,
It seems itself a gem-and would be one,
If not so quickly gone.

O how I love thee! Every other day-
Like the worn pack-horse, weary as he lay
Beneath his burthen, waked at dawn

To make his journey on

The bosom, ne'er ungirdled of its care,
The pulse of yesternight still throbbing there,
Wakes to its eager doings-toiling still
Or come there good or ill.