PHASES OF SUMMER AND WINTER IN ENGLAND 231 



and useful division into three can be obtained. In this 

 way we get six phases, which may be characterised as 

 follows : 



EARLY SUMMER (April to June) is usually a time of 

 light rainfall. Crowds of flowers of the same kind, such 

 as bluebells, red campions and buttercups, bloom at once. 

 Singing birds fill the air with their music. Flying insects 

 are few, and cause little annoyance except near pools 

 of water. 



In MIDSUMMER (June to August) the heat and the 

 rainfall on an average of years reach their maximum, 

 though there is often a second maximum of rainfall in 

 October. Flowers show their greatest variety ; many 

 trees put forth their July shoots. Songsters are very 

 few. Insects of all kinds abound ; this is the principal 

 Aphis-time. 



LATE SUMMER (August to October) begins about St. 

 Bartholomew (Aug. 24), which, according to the proverb, 

 brings the cold dew. Stationary, low-lying mists are 

 common after sunset and before dawn. Calm, clear 

 weather, with some haze, often prevails for weeks together. 

 Many soft fruits and most of the small fruits ripen ; thistle- 

 down and other plumed fruits are dispersed. Nearly all 

 the birds are mute. Flies, especially in a hot year, are 

 abundant and troublesome. Gossamer may be seen more 

 frequently than at any other time of year. 



EARLY WINTER (October to December) is usually 

 wet and foggy ; cyclonic weather often prevails, and the 

 rivers are in flood. Next year's buds are already fully- 

 formed on the trees. Nuts and many hard fruits ripen 

 and are dispersed. The summer migrants depart. Insects 

 are few. 



MIDWINTER (December to February) is the time for 

 frost and snow. Vegetable and animal life is nearly at 

 a standstill. Winter migrants arrive now or in early 

 winter. 



LATE WINTER (February to April) is usually a time 



