60 WEATHER AND OTHER NOTES. 
short time before sunset, which was at 6.10, the northern 
sky from near the horizon to the zenith was covered with 
clouds of a broken, undulatory character, intersected by 
several horizontal bands, which reminded me very strikingly 
of the belts of Jupiter. After sunset those clouds gradually 
took on a peculiar deep yellow colour, which in a short time 
gradually changed to a beautiful dark purple, which in turn 
gradually disappeared, and the clouds resumed their normal 
colour. This, I believe, was the most remarkable and in- 
teresting sunset I ever remember seeing. Four very fine 
warm days followed. Corn sowing began on the 2oth. 
Heard the first nesting note of the peewit on the 7th. Yellow 
crocus came into bloom on the 2nd; coltsfoot on the 14th; 
dog mercury on the 16th; lesser periwinkle on the 18th; 
lesser celandine on the 21st; dandelion on the 25th; wood 
anemone on the 25th; daffodil on the 26th; primrose on an 
exposed situation on the 27th; sweet violet on the 28th. 
APRIL. 
The weather during this month was rather cold and 
barren till the 22nd. The wind was mostly from a north or 
westerly direction. The fields had a green appearance, but 
there was very little grass. From this date till the end of 
the month there was a cold north and north-east wind, which 
took away the green from the fields and left them grey and 
faded. During the most of the month the barometer was 
over 30 inches. Although the weather was unfavourable for 
vegetable growth, it was just what was required for sowing 
oats, planting potatoes, and preparing the land for the turnip 
crop. The daily mean temperature was one degree higher 
than 1914. Flowers were a few days later in coming into 
bloom. Flowering currant came into bloom on the 1oth; 
strawberry-leaved cinquefoil on the 18th; dog violet on the 
20th; Jargonelle pear on the 22nd; sloe on the 23rd; cuckoo 
flower on the 30th. First bumble bee seen on the oth. First 
small white butterfly (Pieris Rapha@) seen on the 22nd. First 
swallow seen on the 24th. Glad to see my happy little friend 
again with its cheery welcome twitter on the housetop. Sand 
martin first seen on the 24th, 
