254 Mr G. Barnston on the Progress of the Seasons 



open everywhere. Wavics, as they are called (Snow Geese"), 

 and Barnacles passing in large flocks for the bay. No weather 

 May. now stops them. 



12. The Northern Diver or large Loon and black Ducks (nigra, fusca, 

 j.ersplcillata) are still scarce, but are sometimes seen. The buds 

 of Poplar, Aspen, and of various Willows, swell. On tlie latter 

 may be found a few of the earliest Tenthrcdines. The tender 

 bud is the nursery of their larvce. Two species of Butterfly 

 (Vanessa and Argynnis) sport over the ice and snow, when 

 these are not gone. 



15. The larger rivers break up. Fish ascend the small streams. The 

 Jack fish and Perch (Luciopcrca) spawn. The Suckers or 

 Carp soon follow. Trout take the bait greedily. The Cliff- 

 Swallow is seen. Swamps and stagnant pools are thawed. A 

 frog may be heard attempting to croak : A Musquito (Culex) 

 felt to bite. 



20. Shells (Limnai) begin to move in the pools along the river. 

 Snails (Limax, Helix, Buliinus, &c.) remove from under stones 

 and fallen timber. The end of the month discloses some spe- 

 cies of Moths (Noclualiles). 



25. Our only Goatsucker (the white patched wing) and the Ground 

 Woodpecker (Picus anratus), the last of our spring birds, arrive. 

 Beavers, Otters, and Musks, have their young. In late seasons, 

 the lakes to the northward break up. 



28. The Poplar and Aspen leaves expand. The Rein-Deer, or Grey 



Deer of Hudson's Bay, has young. 

 June. Sturgeon begin to frequent the Falls and Rapids, and to spawn. 

 5. Insects on warm days are busy, the Tenthredenitxe on the bushes, 

 the Sphingides, Andrenette, and Pangonise, on the ground, all 

 attended by a great variety of parasite ichneumons. The first 

 flowers blow, and those of the Willow are surrounded by Syl- 

 phides and Flower Flics (Anthomoyce.) 



10. A night of frost will still sometimes intervene, and in the woods 

 the ground is still solidly frozen at a foot from the surface. Ve- 

 getation nevertheless still goes forward. Gnats become a tor- 

 ment, the swamps and puddles swarm with their larvae. Small 

 Tadpoles abound in the pools. 



12. The country is now covered with verdure. Birds are nestling, 

 Geese and Ducks hatching. Indians generally occupied with 

 the Sturgeon fishery. 



15. The latest shrubs have leaves, and the majority of Moths and But- 

 terflies are disclosing themselves. The large species of Ephe- 

 mera, Perlse, and Phrygancoe issue from the water. 



20. Trout take the fly-hook. White fish rise to the surface. Cattle 

 seek the houses to get rid of their tormentors the Tabani. In 



