General Work for Autumn Months.—Study the storage of food in twigs, underground stems, bulbs, etc. (Chaps. IV. and V.); collect good specimens of leaves showing autumn colours, observe the phenomena of leaf-fall and the formation of vegetable mould, and notice the order in which forest trees become leafless (Chaps. IV. and VIII.). Study the development and structure of fruits, and the methods of dispersal of seeds (Chap. IX.). Make collections of dry fruits (Chap. IX.), and of the “seed” of useful and injurious grasses (Chap. VII.). Plants usually in flower.—Shepherd’s purse, buttercup, meadow vetchling, red clover, white clover, blackberry, hedge parsley, water dropwort, daisy, dandelion, thistle, foxglove, speedwell, snapdragon, musk, mint, red deadnettle, white deadnettle, slender foxtail, annual meadow grass, and others. Ash and horse chestnut leaves fall. Fruits of apple, pear, plum, blackberry, and other plants are ripe. Corn.—Wheat-sowing begins. Fungi.— Mushrooms and toadstools may be found. ANIMAL LIFE. General Work for Autumn Months.—Study the various methods by which animals prepare for the winter: e.g. migration of birds, hibernation of bats, frogs, insects, etc.; change of colour or thickness of coat, storage of food, etc. [Pg 417] Birds.—Swallows and house-martins congregate. Sand-martins and nightingales depart. Rooks go into winter quarters. Young song-birds may be heard learning to sing. Insects.—Moths may be taken on ivy blossoms, etc. Eggs of cabbage-white butterflies may be found. Caterpillars are mostly full-fed and ready to pupate. Pupae of vapourer moth may be found. [Pg 418] OCTOBER. PLANT LIFE. Plants usually in flower.—Shepherd’s purse, white clover, daisy, dandelion, snapdragon, red deadnettle, white deadnettle, slender foxtail, and others. Most forest-trees shed their leaves. Fruits of apple, pear, plum, and other plants are ripe. Corn.—Wheat-sowing continued. ANIMAL LIFE. Birds.—Young song-birds may be heard learning to sing. Fieldfares and redwings arrive. Swallows and house-martins depart. Drakes reassume their distinctive plumage. Frogs hibernate (p. 334). Insects.—October is the best month for pupa hunting. [Pg 419] [Pg 420] NOVEMBER. PLANT LIFE. Plants usually in flower.—Shepherd’s purse, daisy, white deadnettle, and others. Most forest-trees are now leafless. Fruits of hawthorn, rose, holly, mistletoe, etc., are ripe. Corn.—Wheat-sowing continued. ANIMAL LIFE. Mammals.—Bats hibernate (p. 257). Birds.—Larks patrol fields in flocks (p. 318). Insects.—Pupae may be found. [Pg 421] [Pg 422] DECEMBER. PLANT LIFE.