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[September, 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
THE ANOMALOUS SEASON. 
To the Editor of the Monthly Journal of Science. 
Sir, — The author of the article “ The Anomalous Season,” 
inserted in your last issue, might have added, on the authority 
ot Knapp, that the hot summer of 1825 had been preceded by a 
mild wet winter, and was followed by another summer almost as 
hot and dry, whilst in the intervening winter (1825-26) snow and 
frost only lasted about ten days. This certainly confirms the 
view that exceptional weather, when it sets in, lasts for more 
than one season, and that a warm summer is generally preceded 
by a mild winter. — I am, &c., 
An Observer. 
ACTION OF LIGHT UPON THE COLOURATION 
OF THE ORGANIC WORLD. 
To the Editor of the Monthly Journal of Science . 
Sir, — I have this year observed a phenomenon which scarcely 
agrees with certain generalisations upon which I ventured in an 
article on “ The A( 5 tion of Light upon the Colouration of the 
Organic World.” I there said that “ pure and bright colours 
are connected with the highest vitality only,” and further, that 
the process of decay is “ attended by a degradation of colour.” 
This year, however, I have been struck with the facft that the 
flowers of the common whitethorn, when about to fall and after 
their odour has disappeared, assume, not like other white flowers 
a dirty brown, but a pure and delicate pink or rose shade, with 
minute specks and points of a very decided red. I have care- 
fully examined these colours, and find them free from any 
approach to a maroon or a liver.colour, which we might more 
easily associate with decay. It is striking that we should have 
here a change exactly the reverse of what takes place in the 
rose, the apple-blossom, and the almond. All these open with 
