Oct., 1892. 
PHENOLOGY. 
227 
Hymeno&cypha cyathoidea, Helotiurn herbarum , Ramularia calcea , 
Plasmodiophora alni. 
Tlie party then drove to Tedsmore Rectory, where, by the 
kindness of the Rev. T. M. Bulkeley-Owen and the Hon. Mrs. 
Bulkeley-Owen, they visited the beautiful gardens, and were 
afterwards entertained at tea. These gardens are kept in a 
kind of civilised-wild condition, which adds greatly to their 
picturesqueness. Amongst the trees a number of fine typical 
specimens of the curious fungus, Lactarius exsuccus, were 
found, each showing distinctly that faint touch of verdigris at 
the base of the gills, which seems most easily to distinguish it. 
The party then returned to Oswestry in good time to catch 
the train to the south. 
PHENOLOGY, OR THE ANNUAL APPEARANCE OF 
CERTAIN BIRDS, FLOWERS OF PLANTS, 
AND INSECTS.* 
The word Phenology may possibly be new to many present, 
many dictionaries may be consulted, but without gaining any 
information as to its meaning, The origin of the word may 
probably be from the Greek, c pyvai (feni), or <pcuvop.cu t to 
appear, from which also the word “ Phenomenon ” is derived ; 
the word Phenology meaning the knowledge or science of 
appearances ; or, to give the full meaning, the observation 
of first appearance, each year, of certain wild flowers, birds, 
insects, etc. I shall endeavour to show in this short paper 
the object and the method of making such observations. 
Who does not take some interest in observing, as each 
spring comes round, the flowering of the violet, cowslip, blue¬ 
bell, dog-rose, and other plants ; or the return of the swallow, 
the cuckoo, the swift, or less common birds ; or, again, such 
insects as the cabbage white butterfly, the honey bee, the 
wasp, etc. ? 
Everyone is naturally an “ observer,” but likes to make 
the observation to suit his or her own sweet will. Yet, how 
few observers write down their observations, or, if done, how 
seldom are they available for workers in this particular 
branch of natural history. 
At the best, the notes will most often be made in private 
pocket-books or on letters. Either the observer may not 
know of anyone who would want the observations, or 
naturally would not care to lend such books and letters, or 
* Read at the Conversazione of the Midland Union of Natural 
History Societies, held at The Quinta, near Oswestry, August 23rd, 
1892. 
