PHENOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IX CANADA, 1903. :MA("KAY. 273 



In previous reports attention was called to the phenological 

 work in other countries, especially that of Mr. Edward Hawley, 

 F. R. Met. Soc. V. M. H., in Enuland : of Dr. Ihne of Darmstadt, 

 in Europe ; and of the public school work of JMichelsen and 

 Mathiassen in Denmark, on Nova Scotian lines. Nothing 

 strikingly new has appeared during the year abroad or at home 

 in this department. The Marine Biological Station of Canada 

 under the directorship of Professor Ramsay Wright of Toronto 

 Universit}', was working at Malpecpie in Prince Edward Island 

 during the year. Incidentally botanical work was done, more 

 particular!}- the determination of the microscopic flora on w'hich 

 the oysters of the region feed. Mr. A. B. Klugh of the Welling- 

 ton Field Naturalists' Club published valuable botanical papers 

 during the season, and the Guelph Herald distinguished itself 

 by the publication of an interesting series of botanical and 

 other natural history articles and notes from members of the 

 club. The OfUnva. Natural wt liad a specially valuable series 

 of articles on Nature Study. The Journal of Enucation of 

 Nova Scotia functions as the organ of the phenological observ- 

 ers of the province. The Bibliography of Canadian Botany 

 for the year was presented to the Royal Society in a special 

 report as usual. 



The botanical nomenclature used is that of the latest edition 

 of Gray's Manual, and the names of the birds are those of the 

 American Ornithological Union. 



The tables are also published in the proceedings of the 

 Royal Society, as a part of tlie report of the Botanical Club of 

 Canada. 



[At the date this is going to press (Jan. 1906) it is .satisfactory to see that the 

 «;i/(«o? date instead of the wic/i.s-waZ date is beginning to be n.sed in Great Britain by 

 Mr. Edward Mawley, F. R. Met. Soc, V. M. H., as can be seen in his valuable and 

 interesting " Report on the Phenological Observations for 1904." The Nova Scotian 

 system now used throughout Canada, and demonstrated to be so clear and space, 

 saving in some of Mr. Mawley "s tables, is undoubtedly the simplest system for the 

 notation of dates and the recording and calculation of all phenochrons, individual, 

 special and general. In Germany and Denmark a step has been taken in this direction 

 by utilising the dates of the spring months for obtaining averages, means or " middle 

 dates." But this method confines comparisons to different series of phenochrons for 

 each month. The "annual ' dates form a single series for the year; and after very 

 little use become as full of meaning as the popular "day of the month," and very 

 much more convenient for recording and averaging]. 



