FIRST APPEARANCES OP BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 245 



Easter, 1908, was one of the coldest Easter weeks known by 

 the oldest people living. From April 12 to April 26 from five 

 to ten degrees of frost was registered in this district. Snow fell 

 on April 23, 24, and 25, and the ground was white with snow in 

 Dorset and Hampshire and all over England and Europe. 



Great drought during June, and also in July and August. 



September was unsettled, cold, stormy, and wet. 



October was a remarkably fine, warm month ; sunshine and 

 heat on many days. 



The winter continued fine and mild till December 24 (Christ- 

 mas Eve), when the weather became very cold with a N.E. wind. 

 On Sunday, December 27, we had a heavy fall of snow, which 

 increased on the night of December 28 and 29 with a gale, 

 and a heavy snowstorm, which drifted to 2ft. and 3ft. deep, on 

 December 29, and the weather was very cold with sharp frosts. 

 The year 1908 ended with mild weather, which suddenly came 

 on the night of December 30, and the heavy fall of snow had 

 nearly all gone by the evening of the last day of the year. 

 (E. S. R.) 



PARKSTONE. April 25, heavy snowstorm, wind N.N.W., snow 

 8Jin. deep. (G. R. P.) 



.CORFE CASTLE. On April 25 the whole district was com- 

 pletely covered with snow to the depth of some inches, even 

 where no drifting had taken place, the actual fall being computed 

 at i sin. (E. R. B.) 



PULHAM. Very little thunder ; only one real storm on the 

 night of May 3. Distant thunder heard on June 3, July 8 and 

 14, August 26, and November 13. Snow on April 20 and on 

 April 24 a fall quite 2 in. deep. It has been a year of extremes 

 heat and cold, wet and drought. (J. R.) 



Lists of the dates of first appearances and first flowerings are 

 appended : 



