2j8 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 



LINNET (Lino/a cannalina]. A perfectly white specimen was 

 seen with others of the natural colour. (G. H., Bere Regis.) 



STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris). A nest of starlings was hatched 

 in the middle of February, and the old birds were seen going in 

 with food and the young ones heard for three days, after which 

 it is supposed that they died, as no more was seen or heard of 

 them. (S. C., Sherborne.) 



SNIPE (Gallinago calestis). A large flight passed over the 

 Rectory grounds of Haselbury Bryan on Jan. 7. (R. F. \V.) 



SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica). The swallows seemed not to be 

 so numerous as usual on their first arrival. The warm summer 

 and the abundance of insect food appeared to have a very 

 favourable influence on the hatching. They were very numerous 

 at the time of departure. One brood was observed to be hatched 

 out as late as the end of August, and very probably others were 

 also. (R. F. W., Haselbury Bryan.) 



BLACK-CAP (S\'hia atricapilla). Seen and heard on March 16 

 at Osmington. (E. J. B.) 



HEDGEHOG. On Nov. 16 one was running about the garden 

 and grunting. (N. M. R., Chickerell.) 



Mr. E. S. Rodd, of Chard, sends the following note : " A 

 remarkably dry late spring and dry summer and autumn. 

 Pastures burnt up and water had to be carted miles for stock for 

 weeks. A good deal of thunder. On November 9 the weather 

 was wonderfully mild and the sun quite warm. A great year for 

 rabbits. A very early and abundant corn harvest. Up to 

 Christmas the weather was mild and dry generally, indeed one of 

 the driest and mildest Novembers ever known. About a fortnight 

 before Christmas we had a few days' frost an:l snow in the S. of 

 England and hunting was stopped for some days. Mild damp 

 \\vutln-r with alternate frosts ended the year 1899." 



Canon Wheeler (Haselbury Bryan) sends the following notes 

 <>n wi-ather : 



"February 7, 1899. Thunderstorm. Cyclone lasting five 

 minutes at 12.50 p.m. passed over a small part of the parish. 

 Ten apple trees were thrown down in our orchard, and damage 



