OBSERVATIONS IN HERTFORD SHIKE IN 1877. 103 



rule) which were, brought into flower before their proper time by 

 the mihl winter, just as, when we have unusually warm weather 

 succeeding colder late in the Autumn or early in the Winter, 

 several of our spring-flowering plants may again come into flower. 

 Such exceptional phenomena indicate abnormal states of the 

 weather as surely as any meteorological instruments can do. 



The results of the observations that have been made on the 

 insects and birds, etc., must now be given. The initials used in the 

 following summary refer to the observers already mentioned. 



7-1. Apis mellifica (honey bee). Seen at "Ware, Feb. 20 — R. B. C. 

 11. Epinephile Janira (meadow-brown butterfly). Seen at St. Albans, June 

 U-J. H. 



83. Turdus pilaris (fieldfare). Seen at Odsey, Nov. 6 — H. G. F. 



84. Dan/ias Luscinia (nightingale). Heard at Watford, April 15 — J. H. ; 

 Amwell Bury, April 15— R. B. C. ; Odsey, April 15— H. G. F. ; Ware 

 (numerous), April 24 — R. B. C. 



88. Alauda arvensis (skylark). Heard at Ware, Feb. 7 — R. B. C. 



90. Corvus frugilegus (rook). Building at Odsey, March 3 — H. G. F. 



91. Cuculus canorus (cuckoo). Heard at Watford, April 18 — Lord Essex; 

 April 19— J. H. ; Odsey, April 19— H. G. F. ; Ware, April 23— R. B. C. 

 Changed its note at Watford, June 14 — J. H. 



92. Eirnndo rustica (swallow). Seen at Watford, April 23 — J. H. and J. 

 King; Ware, April 26— R. B. C. ; Odsey. April 29— H. G. F. 



93. Ci/pselus Apus (swift). Seen at Watford, May 15— J. King; Ware, May 

 16— R. B. C. 



97. Eana teniporaria (common frog). Spawn seen at Ware, March 30 — 

 R. B. C. 



Here we can only compare together and with the previous year 

 the dates on which the nightingale's song and the cuckoo's note 

 were heard and the swallow and swift were seen. The earliest 

 dates are at Watford, but at Ware and Odsey the dates are usually 

 only a day or two later. Compared with 1876, the nightingale 

 was heard a week earlier in 1877, the cuckoo about two days 

 earlier, and the swallow and swift at about the same time each year. 



The appearance in unusual numbers of the clouded yellow 

 butterfly [Colias JEdusa) during the last few days of May only 

 needs a passing mention here, having already been recorded in our 

 ' Transactions ' (Vol. I, p. 239). . 



