32 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
by Mr. Smith. They are in general very admirable works; and though of 
fifteen years date, no one is likely to emulate this veteran geologist. 
This letter is not worth the postage, but Rowland Hill’s plan will soon aid 
the correspondence of litterateurs and naturalists. 
Yours most truly, 
York, June 3, 1839. John Phillips. 
Remarks on the Spring of 1839. 
To the Editor of ihe Naturalist . 
Dear Sir,—I venture a few more remarks on the present Spring for your 
approbation. 
I yet hope to see an announcement of the time of arrival or appearance of our 
interesting vernal heralds, in the Southern and Western parts of the land, from 
the pen of some one or more of those who take an interest in your periodical, and 
in such matters. 
The Field Yole ( Arvicola agrestis ), first appeared Feb. 5.— Notonecta glauca, 
first seen lying on his oars, Feb. 8.—Jackdaws began to build, March 2.—Violets 
( Viola odorata ) in flower, 9th Do.—Frogs ( liana temporaria ), spawning, 9th 
Do.—In this place is a ditch where I have observed the Frogs annually appear 
in large numbers, about this season, for the purpose of shedding their spawn. A 
quantity was cast on the 9th of March last.—On the night of the 10th the coldest 
in the month, the thermometer falling to 16°, or sixteen degrees below the 
freezing point. Upwards of seventy Frogs were killed by the intensity of the 
frost, but the eggs were uninjured, and have since been hatched. 
Rooks here began to build March 10.—Periwinkle ( Vinaa minor) in flower, 
21st Do.—Daffodil ( Narcissus pseudo-narcissus) flowering 17th Do.—Eggs of 
the Missel Thrush first found, 23rd Do.—Frogs croaking in the fen, 24th Do.—. 
Wood-louse ( Oniscus asellus) appeared 27 th.—Pile wort ( Ficaria verna) in 
flower, 27th.—Sand Lizard ( Lacerta agilis) basking in the sun, 30th.—Eggs 
of the Thrush and Blackbird found, 30th.—Lapwing’s eggs ( Tringa vanellus), 
first seen, April 2.—Royston Crows ( Corvus cornix) gone, April 11.—Snakes 
(Natrix torquata) first seen out, 16th.—Siberian Crab-tree leafing, 17th.—« 
Lamprey Eels ( Petromyzon jluviatilis) making up the stream, April 15, first 
observed. Hundreds of these singular fish are seen every Spring, apparently 
working their way from Lynn deeps up our river, at which time they are easily 
captured. They then disappear, and are rarely met with till the following season. 
-—Sand Martins ( Hirundo riparia) first seen, April 17th.—Red-start ( Motacilla 
phcenicurus) flying about, 17th.—Swallows, two pairs, first seen, 17th. These 
beautiful creatures reappeared to assure us of the coming of the gladsome Spring, 
