296 Retrospective Criticism. 
The wind blew from the east and north-east on 9 days, from the north-west 
on 3 days, and from the west and south-west on 16 days. Rain or snow 
fell on 11 days; 17 days were fair. There were loud gales of wind on the 
19th from the north; on the 2Ist from the north-west, accompanied with 
drifted snow; and on the 26th and 27th from the west, accompanied with 
rain. 
The coldest day in March was the 5th: mean temperature of that day 
36°5°; wind east; extreme cold 30°. The warmest day was the 28th: 
mean temperature of that day 54°; wind west; extreme heat 63°. There 
were only 5 days of brilliant, and 9 of partial, sunshine; 17 days were 
cloudy. Rain and snow fell on 11 days; 20 days were fair. The wind 
blew from the east on 9 days, from the north on 2 days, from the north- 
west on 3 days, and from the west on 17 days. There were loud gales of 
wind from the north on the 11th; and from the west on the 12th, 14th, 
18th, 19th, 20th, and 29th. 
The mean temperature for the month of February being as low as 37°19, 
vegetation made very little progress. The winter aconite (/elléborus 
hyemalis) was in flower on the 12th; snowdrops appeared above ground 
on the 13th, and flowered on the 20th. The field lark was first heard to 
sing on the morning of the 15th. Wood pigeons cooing and partridges 
pairing on the evening of the 16th. The mavis and blackbird commenced 
whistling on the morning of the 24th, when the temperature was 44°. At 
the beginning of March, vegetation was about 10 days later than on an ave- 
rage of years; and the temperature continued low during the first 10 days. 
The Crocus vérnus, which, in ordinary seasons, blows about the last week 
in February, did not this year come in flower before the 9th of March ; from 
that period the temperature became unusually high, as will be seen by the 
diagram; the consequence was a sudden appearance of spring flowers, 
which had been retarded by the preceding protracted low temperature. 
Revet wheat, that was sown on the 26th of January, only appeared above 
ground on the 14th of March, a period of 47 days ; mean temperature of that 
period 38°3° The Saxifraga oppositifolia flowered on the 14th, 6 days 
earlier than last season, and 10 days later than in 1828. The Draba aizo- 
ides flowered on the 16th; apricot trees on south walls were in full blow 
by the 23d; Narcissus minor on the 24th; Erythronium Dens canis on the 
25th; gooseberries were in leaf by the 26th; the Pulmoniria paniculata 
was in flower on the 27th; larch trees were coming in flower by the 28th, 
on which day the mercury in the thermometer rose to 63°, and fell to 25° 
on the last hour of the month. — 4A. G. April 1. 1830. 
Art. IV. Retrospective Criticism. 
TuE Goatsucker’s Foot-comb. —It frequently happens that the most ingenious 
and apparently incontrovertible reasoning in natural history is overturned or confirmed by facts 
accidentally observed. I was, I confess, disposed to think Mr. Dillon’s account of the goat- 
sucker (p. 31.) more plausible than true, and to agree with White and the learned arguments of 
S. W., till I met with the following passage in Wilson’s American Ornithology, vol. vi. p. 97., 
respecting his Caprimilgus carolinénsis : —* Their mouths,” he says, ‘‘ are capable of prodigious 
expansion, to seize with more certainty, and furnished with long hairs, or bristles, serving as 
palisades to secure what comes between them. Reposing much during the heats of the day, they 
are much infested with vermin [Nirmi? Ornithomyiz?], particularly about the head, and are 
provided with a comb on the inner edge of the middle claw, with which they are often employed 
in ridding themselves of these pests, at least when in a state of captivity.” This, I think, will set 
the question at rest. It will only remain for S. W. to show that the Australian group, which 
want the combed claw, are not infested with Nirmi, &c.,and that the Herons either are so, or that 
their comb is used for some other purpose. —J. Rennie. Lee, Kent, April 5. . 
