FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 273 



powerful, and is made entirely by the throat with the mouth 

 wide open. A wounded bird has given forth this note when in 

 my hand, and it is fairly deafening and must be heard by 

 every bird for a mile at least." (N. M. R.) 



BITTERN (Botaurus stdlaris, L.). A bittern was shot at 

 Chard Reservoir (70 acres) this winter. (E. S. R.) 



BOTANICAL AND GENERAL NOTES. 



CORFE CASTLE, FLOWERING TREES, &c. Apple, pear, and 

 plum trees showed a great wealth of blossom, and blackthorn 

 bloom was everywhere in extraordinary profusion, the bushes 

 being quite smothered in flowers and forming a striking 

 and beautiful feature in the landscape. The gorse bloom, 

 however, was disappointing, the flower buds not being nearly 

 so numerous as in some seasons and the bushes having suffered 

 more or less seriously from the prolonged and very severe 

 frosts of the previous winter. (E. R. B.). 



BUCKHORN WESTON. Abnormally wet season and very 

 little growth on any flowers, and what there was very stunted. 

 The worst hay season I have known since 1870 ; a heavy 

 crop, but shocking ingathering. (W. H. D.). 



SYMONDSBURY, BRIDPORT. Things are naturally rather 

 early down here, so near the sea. The vale of Marshwood, 

 like some of the lanes near Axminster and Lyme Regis, 

 enables many plants to linger far on into the new year from 

 the previous season, which inland frosts would cut down 

 But I was surprised, on the 15th inst., to find on a bank facing 

 S.E. at Symondsbury, Mercurialis perennis, newly sprung 

 up, in flower several plants of it. (Rev. Alfred E. Eaton.) 



PULHAM. 16 of frost on March 4th. June began very 

 cold. From September 14th to October 29th, only three days 



