66 THE WEATHER OP JANUARY. 



January, like the three months which preceded it, was extremely 

 dry. Our returns show only two stations (Altarnun and West Malvern) 

 where the total rainfall exceeded one inch. Commencing with seven or 

 eight days of mild weather and south-westerly winds, a frost set in on 

 the 9th, which continued without intermission till the 28th, when it began 

 to break up. During this cold period the Barometer ranged very high, 

 and was steady, with light and variable winds. The amount of sunshine 

 varied greatly ; in some places local fogs were frequent and persistent, 

 while elsewhere at the same time there was much bright sunshine. A 

 little snow fell about the middle of the month, but only to a depth of one 

 or two inches. On the last two or three days the hoar-frost on trees, &c, 

 attained a length of nearly an inch, and had a beautiful appearance in 

 the morning sun. A fog-bow (" like a colourless rainbow") was seen at 

 Shifnal at 1 p.m. on the 15th. Solar Radiation Thermometer attained 91 2° 

 at Cheltenham, 89° at Leicester, and 88° at Loughborough on the 31st. 



Natural History Notes by Observers. — Spondon. — Green vege- 

 tables have suffered heavily during the last fortnight, chiefly 

 from want of snow covering. Robins seem to have disappeared. 

 I have not seen one here for several weeks. Coventry. — The pro- 

 tection which a covering of snow affords to vegetation has been 

 entirely wanting, and the destruction amongst the tender shrubs and 

 evergreens will, I fear, be found very extensive. The Bay and the 

 Laurustinus may shoot up from the root, but the upper shoots and 

 foliage are killed off, and I have noticed many of the Deodaras so 

 pinched that I do not believe they will survive. — Farley near Cheadle. — 

 "Wild daisies in flower early and in middle of month, and saw primroses 

 in bloom at Oakamoor on 4th January. January 10th, pair of Brown 

 Linnets (Fringilla linota) seen. January 12th, Sturnus vulgaris feeding, 

 evidently in hundreds, forming one large flock ; same day, dead rook 

 found on tree, apparently frozen to its perch. Saw fine Turdus vis- 

 civorus feeding close to this station. Corvus frugilegus but a fitful visitor 

 throughout the month ; and Marsh Tit (Parus palustris) andTurdus merula 

 seen occasionally. — Oakamoor. — Primroses out in garden on Januarylst. — 

 Woolstaston. — There has been a most marked scarcity of birds here during 

 the whole of this winter ; food put outside the windows for them (our inva- 

 riable custom during hard weather) remained almost untouched. — More 

 Rectory. — Fieldfares and other winter birds have been scarce, but small 

 birds — Chaffinches, Sparrows, and Linnets — are plentiful. The abun- 

 dance of Moles, as evidenced by the mole-heaps conspicuous everywhere, 

 is remarkable. May this not be owing, amongst other causes, to the 

 general destruction in past years of birds who prey upon them, especially 

 the Brown Owl. Noticed a pair of Ravens on January 7th ; they are 

 now very scarce. — Stroud. — Daisy and Cardamine hirsuta noted on the 

 4th, being the only wild flowers seen during January. 



— -»- — 



Hybernia bupicapraria taken on a lamp in Burton on February 11th. 

 —J. E. N. 



Primula Vulgaris in flower on February 4th, in a garden, Branstone 

 Road, Burton-upon-Trent. — J. E. Nowers. 



Primula Vulgaris. — I saw several blooms on the 17th January in a 

 sheltered spot, and in my own little garden I have now several buds on 

 one root. The only primrose in bloom I gathered on the 7th inst. — 

 Maggie T. Gbuntith, Chester, Feb. 10th, 1880. 



