184 Effects of the Winter of 1878-9, by James Hardy. 



ordinary forms of that plant. Cyclamen Htsderifolia, a true British, plant, is 

 also quite fresh. Sisyrinchium anceps and Bermudianmn, two early liliaceous 

 plants, are shooting up their grass-like foliage. A fine patch of Saxifraga 

 hirculus, which I was very anxious about, is beginning to show signs of life ; 

 and Frimula Scotica has stood out bravely. This is quite a gem, to my mind 

 the most interesting of British plants next to Linncea borealis. The Azalea 

 procumUns from Cairngorm and Braeriach is untouched by frost, and all the 

 Scotch Alpines seem safe. 



In the flower garden, roses, especially standards, have suffered severely. I 

 have a smaU collection of tea-roses in a spare roof -frame without heat, which 

 have withstood the cold well, the frame being during the worst of the 

 weather buried in snow. There are actually flower-buds on some of them, 

 and others are sending out new growth. Penstemons are killed. 



As regards birds : I noticed the rooks at Ninewells, on the 28th February, 

 building their nests, carrying sticks, and making a great noise, preparing for 

 the coming breeding season. I have seen considerable companies (one con- 

 taining 22) of the long-tailed titmouse, a bird, that though plentiful here at 

 one time, I have failed to observe for some years. I saw one family at the 

 Pistol Plantings, Blackadder ; another in the parish at Harelaw. They are 

 a very singular bird. Although very shy, I got within ten yards of some of 

 them. The keeper at Edington has observed the goosander on the Whit- 

 adder this winter ; and I have noticed flocks of golden plovers since the fresh 

 began. Grey plovers, with the common pewit, were seen by the Edington 

 keeper. The blackbirds and thrushes have got a great thinning ; I fed them 

 regularly every morning after breakfast when the snow was on the ground. 

 I have not observed them since the fresh, but on Sunday night, when visit- 

 ing at Chimside Station — I heard the mavis in full song distinctly. The 

 red-wings and field-fares left this district when the snow begun, and have 

 not been seen since. 



16th March. Owing to the protracted snow storm, wUd animals were 

 driven to great straits for food, especially hares and rabbits. At one period 

 of the storm, the tui-nips were deeply covered with snow and not to be got 

 at. At this time these animals attacked the bark of the thorns, and 

 especially the crab -apples in the hedges, laying them bare ever so high up 

 the stems, which it will take years to recover from the damage done. I have 

 often before in severe seasons observed the barking of the hedges, but never 

 to the same extent as has been done during the late storm, whole Hnes of 

 hedges being greatly damaged. I was also struck with the preference 

 shown to crab-apple bark ; next the thorn ; and strange to relate, the labur- 

 num was extensively barked, as well as the common holly, both very bitter, 

 if not poisonous. The seeds of the laburnum are undoubtedly poisonous — 

 but I cannot be sure of the bark. The Scotch firs were also extensively 

 barked— where branches had been blown off, or young tender trees accessible. 

 The rabbits became sTcin and hone, and were an easy prey to dogs and other 

 enemies. The wood-pigeons came into the gardens in the middle of the 

 village here, and in front of the windows ate the broccolis, Brussels sprouts, 

 and other greens they could get near. In some gardens where the hares 

 could get in, especially at Fishwick Mains, they barked the wall trees so as 

 completely to ruia them for ever. 



