28 



THE PURBECK SOCIETY. 



fenny districts of Ame would, I conceive, richly repay careful 

 search. But I should mention by the way, that I have never 

 met with the common Hornet on the south side of the chalk 

 range ; if it exists at all, it is doubtless of very rare occurrence. 

 Whether it is abundant on the north side, I have not had an 

 opportunity of ascertaining. 



Attention to the Climate is always interesting, and may be 

 productive of valuable results. Much has already been done 

 towards determining the character of succeeding seasons, and 

 still more may be arrived at, by steady observation of the pre- 

 vailing winds and clouds, and of the thermometer, with the weather 

 produced, fogs, &c.; this should be done at different seasons 

 of the year, as Autumn, Mid- Winter, Spring, and Simimer, 

 especially at the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes, and their 

 effects upon vegetation, &c., recorded. 



These observations might be noted in a table such as this: 



The remainder of the sheet might record facts of Natural History, 

 as the arrival and departure of migratory birds, &c. A column 

 might be added for the depth of rain which falls ; the quantity I 

 suspect varies considerably in different parts of the Island. And 

 here, the sayings which are handed down from one generation to 

 another may be profitably observed ; for instance, " so many 

 Fogs in March, so many Frosts in May." Now if a saying of 

 this kind were proved, by repeated observation, to be correct, 

 the coming season might be foreseen and provision made accord- 



