242 FIEST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 



on Jan. 22, and twice after, combined with a splendid sunset ; 

 it was a glorious sight. Also Halley's Comet on May 23 and 

 25, which merely looked like a star in a mist. (J. R.) 



CHARDSTOCK. The new daylight comet (so called) was 

 observed by the house party from the grounds of Chardstock 

 House at about 5 p.m., on Saturday, January 22nd, in the shape 

 of a star with the tail pointing upwards. It was quite low 

 down near the horizon in the S.W. The great variableness 

 and unsettled weather all last year, 1909, and the beginning 

 of the present year, 1910, is remarkable. We have had 

 nothing but samples of weather all through the past 

 13 months ; from snow and floods, to heat and cold, and often 

 in extremes. The latter half of March to the middle of April 

 was perfect weather for the farmer and gardener. Dry, bright 

 weather prevailed, and a beautiful " tilth " and seed bed was 

 cultivated throughout England ; abnormally cold N.E. winds 

 prevailed, giving a seasonable and healthy check to vegetation, 

 and caused a late spring. May 6th. Weather remarkably 

 cold ; N.W. and N.E. winds prevailing. A very late spring. 

 1910. The comet called Halley's in May, 1910, although the 

 weather was clear and fine, could hardly be seen, and was a 

 great disappointment. 1910 was a very wet year ; I made a 

 great bulk of the worst ricked hay I ever made except in 1880. 

 Floods, and storms, and wind were prevalent everywhere in 

 December, doing great damage all over England, and some 

 at Chardstock on this property, especially on Friday, Decem- 

 ber 16th. This hurricane travelled at 70 miles an hour. 

 Trees were blown down and buildings stripped, and ricks 

 unthatched, &c. There were a good many thunderstorms 

 during the summer and autumn ; mostly at night. The 

 worst thunderstorm I experienced was on the night of June 

 5th, 1910, at Cheriton, near Alresford, Hants. All the S. of 

 England experienced this severe thunderstorm, which raged 

 all night, June 5th, till 8 o'clock a.m. June 6th. The 

 weather was fine, bright, and frosty at Christmas, and the wet 

 year of 1910 ended in fine, mild, still weather. (E. S. R.) 



