224 \WEATHER AND OTHER NOTES. 
very unusual for this month, and was piercingly cold on a 
number of days. 
I EBRUARY. 
The mild frost experienced through January was con- 
The return of moister weather on the 
tinued till the 17th. 
17th brought to an end an unusual protracted winter 
The usual rainfall from January 1rth till February 
drought. 
This year during that period it was 
17th is about 4 inches. 
about one-twentieth that amount. From the 17th until 
the end mild genial weather continued. The wind was prin- 
cipally from a northward or easterly direction. On many 
days it was so calm that it was difficult to determine its 
direction. 
Snowdrop hanging its head on the 1st, being 20 days 
later than in 1916. Heard the cheery song of the Water 
Ousel on the gth, and that of the Song Thrush on the 26th, 
which was 24 days later than 1916. 
MARCH. 
Wintry weather prevailed during the month, with the 
exception of the first three days and two or three near the 
end, which were mild and more spring-like. During the 
middle portion of the month the fields were very grey and 
barren, without a trace of green. There were bitter cold 
east winds from the 4th till the roth. There was a slight fall 
of snow on five days, and frost on 26. 
Hazel came into bloom on the tst, 32 days later than 
in 1916; Coltsfoot on the 15th, 23 days later; Wood Anemone 
on the 30th, 7 days later. First heard the nesting note of the 
Peewit on the 16th, was about the same time as in 1916. 
The daily mean temperature was 38:01 deg., being the 
lowest March record during the last seven years. 
APRIL. 
April came in with a cold north-east wind, a wintry 
morning, with about three inches of snow on the ground. 
Cold, barren winds prevailed until the 16th. From this until 
the end the weather was milder, but of a mixed type of spring 
and winter days. There were no genial April showers, and 
