OBSERVKD IN UEETFORDSUIRE IN 1882. 185 



lu the tabic now given recordinc; observations of insects and 

 birds the same plan is followed as in the last report — the earliest 

 dates in each instance are alone given, and for details Miss 

 Ormorod's notes on the insects observed and Mr. Littleboy's notes 

 on the birds should be referred to. 



Frog-spawn was first seen at Redbourn Bury, St. Albans, on the 

 5th of March, at Hertford on the 9th, at Faiihams Hall, Ware, on 

 the loth, and at Harpenden on the 1st of April. 



In the report for 1881 a table is given showing the mean dates 

 of phenomena observed for the six years 1876-81. In the present 

 report the means for the period 1876-82 are given in a supple- 

 mentary column in the tables on pages 182-184. These dates 

 are not all of the same value, for they are deduced from 

 observations of from one year to seven. By referring, however, 

 to the table on pp. 76, 77 of the present volume, the number 

 of years of observation of any occurrence can be at once found, 

 and the value of the mean determined in any instance. 



Confining our remarks to the plants in the list it will be seen 

 that by including the year 1882 the mean dates are materially 

 altered, for in this year vegetation has been remarkably forward, 

 especially in the spring. Of 38 species of plants observed in all 

 the seven years, every one came into flower earlier in 1882 than 

 the previous mean. Five species [Ranunculus Ficaria, Viola 

 odorata, PotentiUa Fragariasfrum, Anthrisms sylvestris, and Mer- 

 ciirialis perentiis) came into flower nearly two months before the 

 previous mean date, and many opened their flowers about a month 

 before the usual time. If the whole of the 48 species given on 

 page 79 of the present volume are considered, it will be found 

 that in 1882 on the average they came into flower 23 days before 

 the previous mean ; and by carrying the analysis further another 

 fact will appear, namely, that from February to June there was 

 a gradual diminution in the state of forwardness of vegetation. 

 The 24 species for the spring months (February to April) were 31 

 days, while the 24 for the summer months (May to July) were 

 only 15 days in advance of the previous mean. Taking each 

 month singly, the gradual approach to a normal state of things is 

 still more apparent. In February the period in advance is 36 

 days; in March, 29; in April, 27; in May, 22; in June, 12; and 

 in July, 10. These results are in each instance deduced from 

 the means of the group of eight species for each month given on 

 page 79. Thus this very exceptional year has tended to confirm 

 the rule pointed out in previous reports — the earlier in the year 

 the greater the divergence in the state of vegetation from one 

 year to another, the earliness or lateness becoming more or less lost 

 in the summer months. 



It should however be mentioned that the winter of 1881-82 was 

 very mild, with a very humid atmosphere, and not much rain; 

 and that the spring was exceptionally warm, with a humid 

 atmosphere, a small amount of rain, not much cloud, and conse- 

 quently a considerable duration of sunshine. The weather of the 



