244 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 



a few newly-opened flowers. The laburnums in my garden put 

 forth a second crop of leaves, but did not attempt to bloom 

 again ; those, however, in Church Knowle churchyard on the 

 south side of the Purbeck Hills were noted as being in fine 

 flower on December 6 and later in the month, showing a good 

 many flower sprays more or less covered with fresh blossoms. 

 (E, R. B.) 



SECOND BLOOM ON PEAR TREES AND LILACS. Pear trees 

 often flower a little in the autumn, but this year at least three in 

 my garden at Montevideo, Chickerell, were covered with 

 flowers during part of October and November. Also some lilac 

 bushes had numerous flowers, but the bunches were very much 

 smaller than at the normal flowering. (N. M. R.) 



WINTER FLOWERING OF PLANTS. Ragwort and Vetch in 

 flower on December 5. Wild strawberries, daisies, dandelions, 

 veronicas, and red campion in flower on December 22 at Pulham. 

 (J. R.) 



NOTES ON WEATHER, &c. 



WEATHER IN CHARD DISTRICT. The year 1908 began with 

 snow and very hard frost. A remarkably quick thaw took place 

 on Sunday night, January 5. There was skating on Sunday, and 

 we hunted on Tuesday with no sign of frost in the ground. On 

 Saturday, January 1 1, hard frost again. 



February and March very unsettled ; few weeks or days alike, 

 snow, rain, thunder and lightning, gales, and frost coming in 

 one week sometimes. A great year for fatal and bad hunting 

 accidents. Sport unsettled and bad generally in most hunting 

 counties with unsettled scent. 



March u, gales of wind S.W. and N.W. continue, and very 

 cold. 



Very cold wind and frosts up to April j 5 ; season very back- 

 ward. 



April 25, a remarkably late spring, caused chiefly by the extra- 

 ordinary continuance for weeks of cold weather and N.E. 

 winds. 



