282 B. N. A. BOUNDARY COMMISSION. 
The Spring of 1840 would appear to have been a remarkably late 
one. Allowing for this, the indications of the advance of the season, 
correspond very closely with those at Dufferin; leaving only a day or two 
in favour of the latter, though Cumberland House lies over 300 miles 
further north, and 220 further wesi. 
653. At Carleton House, in lat. 52° 52’, long. 106° 15’, the progress 
of the spring is illustrated, by the following memoranda of events, com- 
piled from Sir J. Richardson’s observations in 1827,* and Mr. Bourgeau’s 
botanical notes in 1858.+ 
March 13.—Sparrow Hawks, (Falco sparverius) arrived.and on the 17th several migra- 
tory small birds noticed, 1827. 
29.—Large flocks of Snow-birds (Plectrophanes nivalis), 1827. 
April 1.—Many Fringillide seen, and on the 2nd, Swans arrived, 1827. 
** 4,—Sap flowing in the Negundo, 1827. Not till April 10th, 1858. 
es < oe Plover (AX yialitis vociferus) and several small birds arrived, 
“ec 
** 12.—Alder gathered, 1858. 
** 13.—Anemone patens, 1858. In 1827 not till April 22nd. 
** 14.—Four inches of snow fell, 1858. 
** 18.—Buds of Poplars, Willows, &c. swelling, 1858. : 
*¢ 22.—Robins (7'urdus migratorius) and the Butcher-bird (Collurio borealis) seen, 
** 27.—Frogs began to croak, 1827. 
‘* 28.—Sand-hill Cranes (Grus Canadensis) arrived, 1827. 
May 1.—The Prairie Lark (Sturnella magna) appeared. Last flocks of Plectrophanes 
nivalis left for the north, 1827. 
** 2.—Red-winged Black-bird (Ageleus pheniceus) and Rusty Grackle (Scolecopha- 
gus ferrugineus), 1827. 
‘* 3.—Phlox Hoodii in flower, 1858. (On the 4th, 1827), also Populus tremuloides, 
P. balsamifera, two species of Salix, and Corylus Americana. (‘The latter 
with C. rostrata, flowered on the 7th, 1827), Aquisetum arvense, 1858. 
** 5.—Ranunculus rhomboideus, Viola debilis, Nardosmia palmata, and several 
Carices flowered, 1827. 
‘© 6,—White-bellied Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) and many Gulls, arrived, 1827. 
More species of Salix; two species of Sheperdia, and Negundo, flowered 
1858. Sheperdia Canadensis, and Negundo, flowered on the 9th, 1827. 
‘© 7.—Androsace, Viola Canadensis, Fragaria Virginiana, Astragalus (probably A. 
caryocarpus), &c., 1858. Recurvirostra Americana arrived 1827. 
‘* 12.—Thermometer fell to 14°5° F. during the night, and nearly all the plants in 
flower frozen, and the season thrown back, 1858. 
** 19.— Viola Nuttalliana, flowered, 1827. On the 20th, 1858. 
** 20.—Amelanchier Canadensis, Betula papyracea, 1858. 
It will be observed, on comparison, that the progress of events at 
Carleton House is distinctly in advance of that in the Red River Valley 
in 1874. The difference, however, does not seem to be more than a week, 
— — —_ 

* Loc. cit, p. 238. t Exploration of British North America, p, 252. 

