24 Diary of a JVaturalist. 



and leopard frogs, (rana palustris,) have made their appearance 

 — a pair of winter wrens are building their nest in one of the 

 green houses — song sparrows, (fringilla melodia,) cheer us with 

 their music to-day. 



22. Morning clear and warm — large flocks of wild geese flying 

 towards the NE.— 11 A. M. distant thunder towards WSW. — 

 commenced raining at 4 P. M. — cleared at sunset. 



23. Last night experienced a heavy thunder storm, accom- 

 panied with heavy driving rain from WNW. — morning fine — 

 robins singing — wind NW. — afternoon blustering and cool. 



24. A slight skim of ice this morning — weather clear and fine 

 —wind NE. 



25. Fine day until evening — robins continue their song — com- 

 menced snowing toward evening — wind NE. 



26. Rain — stormy wind from NE. — large flights of wild pigeons 

 flying toward the south — the whole township up in arms shooting 

 at them. 



27. A fine moderate day — wind SW. Henbit or archangel, 

 (lamium amplexicaule,) in flower. 



28. Morning clear, with a blustering wind from the NW. — 

 afternoon fine weather — thermometer at 3 P. M. 54°. 



29. Warm and slightly hazy — wind NE. — kingfisher (alcedo 

 alcyon,) flying about — red owl, (strix asio,) hooting — blue-flowered 

 houstonia, (houstonia ccsrulea,) in flower. 



30. Weather fine and warm — Claytonia Virginica, and speed- 

 well, (vEROMCA arvensis,) in flower. 



31. Raining nearly all day — wind NE. — in the afternoon chang- 

 ed to NW. and cleared about sunset. 



April 1. A fine day — wind SW. — apricots in bloom — peaches 

 nearly open — shad fishing has commenced in Schuylkill — at 8 

 P. M. raining. 



2. G)ntinued raining all day — martens, (HIRU^D0 purpurea,) 

 have arrived from the south. 



3. Weather fine and clear — wind SW. — Dutchman's breeches, 

 (coRVDALis cucullaria, vel diclvtra cucullaria,) in flower-^pewits 

 beginning to build their nests. 



4. Fine weather continues — wind SW. G)lts-foot, (tussilago 

 plasties,) witch hazle, (hammamelis virginica,) weeping willow, 

 (sALix babylonica,) and cornelian cherry, (cornus mascula,) in 

 flower. 



