260 

 A CONTEAST. 



Blooming 'mid Poverty's drear wintry waste.— ColeeTDoe. 



Tkuly the openiug season of the Naturalist's observations has been a 

 severe, and as regards actual fruits, a scanty one. The first fortnight of 1855 

 was a treacherous harbinger, for so merrily did Blackbird, Thrush, and Ked- 

 breast pipe their welcome notes, that we were induced to prognosticate a 

 continuance of mild weather ; but it is good to have expectations thwarted 

 sometimes, it teaches us to trust to our Maker more than man. In silence 

 let us submit to our Creator's dispensations, and be assured what seems loss 

 is real gain. These thoughts suggested themselves as I reviewed my very 

 scanty Calender for the late month February, which I contrasted with that 

 of the two previous years. Certainly, at a glance, it is evident how intensely 

 severe our recent snows and frosts have been ! and what a consequent retard- 

 ment has been given to out-door Naturalists ! 



In February of 1853, I gathered the groundsel, snowdrop, red dead nettle, 

 the white nettle, the furze, and polypoddy. 



In Februaiy of 1854: the catkins, daises, dandelion, red dead nettle, furze, 

 the Jew's-ear fungus, (Pezziza coccinea,) primrose, and found the arum two 

 inches above ground ; violets were abundant on the meadow-banks. 



In February of 1855, only groundsel, furze, catkins, and polypoddy. 



The first two calendars are those of wild flowers found in the lanes and 

 fields of Rawburgh Hill, Norfolk; this last of Moseley Lanes, near Bir- 

 mingham. — Geo. R. Twinn, March 7th, 1855. 



SUMMARY OF THE WEATHER FOR APRIL AND MAY 1855. 



BY SIR. T. LISTER. 



The barometer has generally maintained a high elevation throughout the 

 month, in one instance only sinking to 29 in. on the 10th, its highest point 

 being 30"65 in., on the 23rd, the mean for the month being 30-6 in. The 

 thermometer has experienced great extremes : its highest point being 68 

 deg., on the 19th; its lowest, 26 deg., on the 1st; exhibiting a variation in 

 the exti*eme points of 42 deg. The mean temperature of the month was 44 

 deg. Rain has fallen on nine days, but, until the 28th, in scarcely appreci- 

 able quantities, the average for the whole month being but three quarters of 

 an inch. The wind has varied from N.W. to N.E., and occasionally S.; in 

 general moderate, though, in some instances, high, and often very cold for ^^ 

 the season. Vegetation is consequently in a backward state, though the 

 Autumn-so\vn corn is in a more healtliy condition than might have been 

 expected. The leafing and flowering of plants, and the arrival of Summer 

 birds, pi'ognosticating seasons truer than the almanack, all evince the back- 



