A THUNDER SHOWER. 
61 
they are now rapidly increasing and spreading themselves over the 
country. The Rocky Mountains seem to have been their great 
rallying ground ; they are found there in great numbers ; and as 
the Prince of Canino observes, they have advanced eastward to 
meet the white man. These new-comers remain but a short time, 
about six weeks in Jime and July, and then disappear again, tak- 
ing flight for tropical America. They are entirely unknown in 
Europe, or any part of the old Avorld. They have more variety 
in their markings than most swallows. 
Fridarj, 5th. — Fine shoAver last night, 'wnth thunder and light- 
ning ; everything grooving delightfully. Such days and nights 
as these, in early spring, the effect produced on vegetation, by 
electricity and rain together, is really wonderful. M. de Candolle, 
the great botanist, mentions an instance in which the branches of 
a grape-vine grew, during a thimder shower, no less than an inch 
and a quarter in the course of an hour and a half ! Really, at 
that rate, one might almost see the plant grow. 
The yomig buds are coming out beautifully ; the tufts of scar- 
let ffowers on the soft maples are now daintily tipped with the 
tender green of the leaf-buds in their midst, and the long green 
flowers of the sugar maple have come out on many trees ; yes- 
terday, there were none to be seen. White blossoms are open- 
ing in drooping clusters, also, on the naked branches of the Jime- 
berry ; this is a tree wliich adds very much to the gayety of our 
spring ; it is found in every wood, and always covered Avith long 
pendidous bunches of floAvers, Avhether a small shrub or a large 
tree. There is one in the churchyard of great beauty, a tree 
perhaps five-and-thu'ty feet in height ; and standing among ever- 
greens as it does, it looks beautifully at this season, when covered 
