86 E. MAWLEY PHENOLOGICAL PHENOMENA 



the average. The first plant on the list, the hazel, was from 6 to 

 22 days late in coming into flower. The song-thrush commenced 

 singing from 19 to 28 days later than the average date. The 

 honey-bee was also from 21 to 32 days late in visiting flowers. 

 Mr. Hopkinson, writing from St. Albans during February, 

 remarks : '' The effect of trees in conveying moisture to the 

 ground was at times very marked, quite a shower falling from 

 them, and water running off the roads into the side ditches, while 

 the dust was blowing on other parts of the road." As showing the 

 lateness of the early spring flowers, the observer at Hitchin states 

 that on February 28th " vegetation in the woods was very back- 

 ward — no primroses, no violets, no celandine." 



The Spring. 



So few and brief were the spells of anything like unseasonably 

 warm weather, that this season may be regarded as having been a 

 cold one throughout. As might naturally be expected under such 

 unfavourable conditions, all the spring wild flowers were extremely 

 backward in making their appearance. The date of the first 

 flowering of the coltsfoot was from 9 days earlier to 36 days later 

 than the average, the wood anemone from 5 to 13 days late, the 

 blackthorn from 19 to 34 days late, the garlic hedge-mustard fi'om 

 4 to 19 days late, the horse chestnut from 7 to 21 days late, and the 

 hawthorn from 3 to 19 days late. As regards our spring migrants, 

 the swallow was from 2 days early to 13 days late in making its 

 appearance, the cuckoo from 1 to 14 days late, and the nightingale 

 from 4 days early to 13 days late. The wasp was from 50 days 

 early to 12 days late. The small white butterfly was from 9 to 25 

 days late, the orange-tip butterfly 38 days late, and the meadow- 

 brown butterfly 34 days early. 



The above particulars are those derived from the observations 

 sent in by the observers. As regards the coltsfoot, this is no doubt 

 the most difficult plant on the list to observe correctly, o^ving to 

 the small choice of plants observers often have. Considerable 

 differences must therefore almost every year be expected in 

 the dates given for it. Another year's observation will, how- 

 ever, show whether these differences are fairly consistent from 

 year to year, and this after all is more important than the 

 observer being able to select the particular group of plants 

 which best represents the climate of his locality. The fruit-trees 

 blossomed abundantly, and but for an unseasonably sharp frost 

 at Whitsuntide the blossom would for once have escaped all injury 

 from cold. During this spring quarter the farmers experienced 

 much difficulty in providing sufficient keep for their cattle and 

 sheep. On the other hand seldom if ever has the land, owing 

 to the frost and continued dry weather, been at this season in such 

 a splendid condition for working. At Bcrkharastcd frog spawn 

 was first observed on March 1st. Mr. Lewis stated that at St. 

 Albans nightingales were unusually abundant last year, and that 

 they were still in song on the 19th of June. 



