4734 Calendar of Natural Phenomena. 



25. Wood Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) flowers. 



26. Lesser Celandine {Ranunculus Ficaria) flowers. 

 Woodlouse (Onisciis asellus) appears. 



Gray Wagtail (Motacilla boarula) last seen. 



27. Very heavy fall of snow in the night. 

 29. Coltsfoot (Tussilagofarfara) flowers. 



31. Goldfinch (Carduells elegans), song commences. 

 Ivy-leaved Speedwell ( Veronica hederifolia) flowers. 



Remarks.- — The struggles of regenerated Nature in spring to regain 

 the victory over the grave of winter have been this month unusually 

 protracted and severe : for a time it has seemed as though the new- 

 born season had established its dominion, when suddenly the icy 

 clutch of its expiring predecessor has been felt in all its severity, and 

 although we well know which must ultimately prevail, yet up to near 

 the close of the month there appears but small advantage on either 

 side. Indeed, the month of March has been singularly transitional; 

 although it " came in,*' contrary to the popular adage, " like a lamb," 

 yet its lamb-like qualities did not long endure, except, indeed, in one 

 respect — that, namely, of yielding abundance of wool. On the 10th 

 and 11th, after some fair, spring-like weather, there suddenly came a 

 fall of snow, so heavy and long-continued, and so unaccompanied by 

 wind, that the surface of the earth presented the most perfect and 

 beautiful snow r -scene we have had this winter : it all disappeared, 

 however, in one day (the 12th), and after another interval of ten days, 

 during which we enjoyed some lovely days (especially the 20th), the 

 21st ushered in a cold and violent easterly wind, w T ith abundance of 

 sleet, and the waters were frozen for several successive nights. Still 

 the spring recovered itself sufficiently to show its smiles on the 26th, 

 when, lo ! as if in revenge, the night of the 27th brought the heaviest 

 fall of snow .with which this winter has favoured us : so heavy was it 

 that had it not melted as fast as it fell it would have laid much deeper 

 on the ground than from any previous fall. The last day of the month, 

 however, gives promise that spring, assisted by the advancing year, 

 will soon shake off the mantle of winter. I am thus particular in 

 giving a summary of the weather, because the welfare and advance- 

 ment of animal and vegetable life so much depend upon it : of the 

 two animated kingdoms, however, the vegetable has suffered far more 

 this month than the animal, and its effects upon it are far more en- 

 during. The impetus given to animal life by the dissolution of the 

 long frost in the latter part of February has never been interrupted, 



