142 
METEOROLOGICAL NOTES. 
the sequence has already proved. From the 19tli the barometer 
continued high, with an undulatory movement, till the 29th, after 
which it fell to about 29'oins. on the 31st. Towards the close of the 
month the temperature was again low, with an overcast sky, and 
much damp in the air. A minimum reading of 24T° was recorded at 
Hodsock on the 1st, but the sheltered thermometer fell below 32° on 
a few nights ; on the grass, however, frosts were very frequent. The 
rain-fall was about the average ; sunshine below the average. Lunar 
halos were observed on the 3rd, 7tli, 9th, and 11th. The wind was 
rather light for March, blowing principally from N.E. and S.E., and 
rarely reached the force of a strong breeze. Vegetation was in a forward 
state, the foliage on the hedgerows appearing on the 15th, and plum 
trees being in full blossom on the 20th. 
Wm. Berridge, F.R.Met.Soc. 
12, Victoria Street, 
Loughborough. 
Erratum. —In the notes for February, a minimum on the grass is 
attributed to Coston Rectory, whereas it was recorded at Hodsock. 
—W.B. 
THE LARK AND THE THRUSH. 
The lark is found all over the British Isles but is less numerous on 
the Western Isles and extreme North of Scotland, especially in winter. 
Larks may be seen in large flocks in the autumn. In winter the 
foreign larks return to the Continent; the stay-at-home birds take up 
their quarters in arable and moor lands. 
The habits of this bird are worthy of observation. By the con¬ 
formation of its claws it is naturally adapted to perching on the 
ground; by its length and power of wing, for soaring high in the air ; 
it never perches on a tree. The following description of its flight is 
from Gould: “ Rising as it were by a sudden impulse from its nest, it 
bursts forth while as yet a few feet from the ground into exuberant 
song, and with its head turned towards the breeze, now ascending 
perpendicularly, now veering to right or left, but not describing circles, 
it pours forth an unbroken chain of melody, until it has reached an 
elevation computed to be at the most 1,000 feet. To an observer on 
earth it has dwindled to the size of a mere speck, but it never rises so 
high as to defy the search of a keen eye.” “ Having reached its 
elevation,” he says, “ its ambition is satisfied with a series of droppings 
with intervals of simple hovering, during which it seems to be resting 
on its wings. Finally, as it draws near the earth it ceases its song and 
descends more rapidly, but before it touches the ground it recovers 
