318 FOREST LIFE IN ACADIE. 



NOTES ON PERIODIC PHENOMENA. 



The following obsen^ations of periodic phenomena 

 were made in Halifax, Nova Scotia, an excellent and 

 central station for observing the natural features of the 

 seasons in the lower provinces, being on the line of 

 migration of water birds as well as of such land birds 

 as pass over farther to the north or eastward, to New- 

 foundland or Labrador. Some allowance must be made 

 with regard to locality in diflferent parts of the provinces 

 — as, for instance, in the case of Montreal, where the 

 advent of winter and of spring phenomena is rather earlier 

 than at Halifax, or of Quebec, where the latter season is 

 more backward, and a lower degree of mean winter 

 temperature prevails — yet, excepting that a larger 

 number of species is comprised in the fauna and flora 

 of the Canadas, and, on the other hand, in Newfound- 

 land, a great reduction occurs in the representation of 

 both kingdoms with an entire absence of the class 

 Reptilia, it may be said that the phenomena of the 

 seasons in Nova Scotia afford a fair index to such occur- 

 rences throughout the British provinces of North 

 America bordering on the Atlantic* 



* Mean temperature and atmospheric pressure for four years, from 1863 

 to 1866 inclusive : — 



Thermometer. Barometer. 



Winter 24° 29'66° 



Spring 39° 29*62° 



Summer . . . . . 61° 29-68° 



Autumn . . . . . 48° 29-67° 



Mean 43° 29-66° 



From Proceedings of N.S. Institute of Natural Science. 



