There is no doubt that the month was one of the wettest, if not the wettest May on record in the Midland Counties, Observations going back more than forty years show nothing to surpass it, although an approach is made by the May of 1869, which, we may hopefully note, was followed by a very dry summer. At every Midland station, however, the rainfall of May, 1878, may be taken as from two to three times the average amount for that month. At many points on the west and south-west, the 10th was the day of maximum fall, but in the centre and east most fell on the 7th and 8th. Owing to the superabundance of moisture, the foliage and grass are unusually forward, luxuriant, and green; but wheat begins to suffer, garden seeds lave decayed in the ground, and slogs and grubs are very abundant. Bees, however, have had a bad time of it. The barometer has been low and fluctuating; temperature equable, with hardly any frost, but little sunshine and south-westerly winds. Thunderstorms have been frequent, those on the 1st, 13th, 17th, 18th, and 27th may be specially noted. The Swift was seen at Tamworth on the 4th, Kibworth on the 5th, and Castle Ashby on the 15th. Corncrake heard at Burton on 1st, and Castle Ashby on 4th; also, at last place, White-throat on same day. Horse-chestnut flowered at Stroud on 5th, at Burton on 3rd; Hawthorn and Laburnum came out about the 7th, but the show of each has been brief and poor.
Correspondence.
White Ragged Robin (Lychnis Flos-cuculi.)—Allow me to record that I have this day found a pure white form of this plant—S.
Chelidonium Majus.—Whilst on a visit to a village on the borders of Notts last year, one of the party said he remembered the spot in a lane where a plant of Chelidonium majus grew when he was last there thirty-eight years before. On going to the spot to our surprise we saw a plant of the same kind. Is it not rather curious that the habitat had not been destroyed during the course of so many years?—H. Johnson.
Freshwater Aquarium.—I should feel much obliged for detailed directions how to maintain a freshwater aquarium in good condition, Is it possible to keep alive for any length of time such beautiful and interesting creatures as the freshwater polyzoa, melicerta, conochilus, &c.? If so, how?—M. Berte.
Cuckoo.—A few evenings ago, as I was standing in the garden listening to the Cuckoo, the bird very much astonished me, by several times singing "Cuck-cuck-cuck-cuck-cuck-cuck-coo," repeating the first note, as near as I could count, half a dozen times, but it may have been oftener. Is this a common variation of the bird’s usually almost monotonous song? To me it seemed a clear case of "too many" cucks.—N.
Redpoll.—Can any of your ornithological readers tell me what bird is distinguished by the above name? I find, on referring to the "Wild Birds' Protection Act, 1872," that the "Redpoll" is mentioned in the schedule. Would it be considered that under this name is included the brown linnet, which some early ornithologists have, I believe in error, called the "Greater Redpoll?" I shall also be glad to have an opinion as to the correctness of that term, "Greater Redpoll." Is the brown linnet known by that name now? If so, would it be covered by the term "Redpoll," or is that name so generally applied to a particular species as to preclude such an extended signification being given to it?—Fred. W. Rothera.
