CORRESPONDENCE. 117 



Moles. — I have noticed in many parts of the country during the 

 past winter and spring an unusual number of mole-hills. In some grass 

 fields they were so numerous as nearly to cover the herbage. I should 

 be glad if some naturalist, familiar with the habits of the mole would, 

 if possible, explain why these little creatures have been so unusually 

 busy of late in throwing up their hills ? — Enquireb. 



Meteor. — Many readers of the "Midland Naturalist" must have 

 seen and noticed a most magnificent meteor that I and several others 

 who were with me on Easter Monday last saw when near St. Alban's, 

 Herts. It was exceedingly bright, and of a bluish and red colour, 

 lighting up the road brilliantly. It seemed to shoot from north to south, 

 was large, and seemed to have a luminous tail, and was visible for quite 

 three seconds, I should think. If some astronomical reader will kindly 

 give an account of it, I and others will be obliged. — F. W. H. 



Early Wild Flowers.— March 6th, Wild Laurel, Daphne laureola ; 

 7th, Lesser Celandine and Coltsfoot ; 9th, Elm ; 17th, Viola odorata, 

 Violet ; 28th, Dandelion ; 30th, Anemone nemorosa. April 7th, Ground 

 Ivy, Glechoma hederacea ; 8th, White Dead Nettle ; Cowslip, Primula 

 veris; 11th, Larch. — A.E.I., Hatton Rectory, Lincolnshire. 



Floral Notes. — Dates of flowering, &c, at Nottingham : — April 3rd, 

 Primula verie, Cowslip, Viola canina, Plum Blossom (west aspect ;) 

 12th, Galtha palustris, Cherry Blossom (west aspect ;) 13th, Pear Blossom 

 (west aspect ;) 17th, Lamium album, L. imrpureum, Nepeta Glechoma, Black- 

 thorn, P. communis, Alliaria officinalis, Hedge-sparrow's eggs, Blackbird's 

 eggs, Veronica agrestis. The Sycamores began to show foliage at the 

 beginning of the month. — H. F. Johnson, Nottingham. 



Floral Notes.— March 1st, Hazelnut in flower. 5th, Daisy ; first 

 Crocus out in garden. 6th, Daisies ; Marsh Marigold; staminate flowers 

 of Larch. 7th, Dog's Mercury, only one plant really out ; Coltsfoot fully 

 out. 8th, Elm fully out ; Larch pistillate flowers ; Chickweed ; Shep- 

 herd's Purse ; and a blue and white Veronica. 18th, Ado.va moschatellina, 

 Viola odorata ; Lesser Celandine. 20th, Red Dead Nettle. 21st, Potentilla 

 fragariastrum. — A. S. L., Stapenhill, Bm*ton-on-Trent. 



Floral Notes. — Dates of flowering near Wimborne, Dorset : — March 

 1st, Viola odorata ; 3rd, Primula vulgaris ; 7th, Anemone nemorosa; 15th, 

 Lamium purpureum ; 17th, Viola sylvatica ; 19th, Veronica Chamcedrys, 

 Adoxa moschatellina, Mercurial is perennis (male,) Stellaria media, Tussilago 

 Farfara, Bellis perennis ; 20th, Caltha palustris, Veronica Iwderifolia, 

 Lychnis diurna, Taraxacum officinale ,Myosotis arvensis , Euphorbia helioscopia ; 

 21st, Lamium album; 25th, Leucojum testivum; 10th, Salix (species doubtful 

 probably caprea,) male flower. The whole month, with the exception of 

 about seven days (e.g., 15th, 16th, 22nd, and 23rd,) was decidedly warm ; 

 very little rain or wind, considering the month. — H. W. Trott, 

 Wimborne. 



Floral Notes. — Arum maculatum and Chelidonium majus in leaf at 

 Duddington ; Bellis perennis in flower at Wakerley on February 17th and 

 on the 18th, Vicia sepium (?) in hedge-row facing east, near Sudbury, 

 between two and three feet high, growing luxuriantly, with immature 

 seed vessels, but no flowers, it appeared to have blossomed in the winter ; 

 part of the plant I have preserved, the other I left, hoping to see more of 

 it in May. March 8th, Ulmus campestris in full flower at Huntingdon, 

 and Ranunculus Ficaria atBrampton ; between the two places, in sheltered 



