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339. 20th March 1948. A fine day, with strong SW-W. wind & some very hot sunbursts. Leaves on Betula just unfolding & showing green, but not quite "in leaf". At 1:50 P.M. a ♀︎ Bombus agrorum flew past me in back garden & lit on flowers of Mediterranean Heath - the first agrorum of season! 21st March 1948. After a fine early morning & strong wind during night, wind dropped about 10 A.M. & thick cold drizzle started in a "cold front", or as I call it a "jam", came from NW. Rain lasted till about 2:30 P.M., but cleared just as we went out to catch 54 bus to Crumlin Cross Roads; from there walked to Willington House & home via Butterfield Lane & Rathfarnham & thence bus. Saw a good deal of Blackthorn in flower along roadsides between Crumlin Cross & Willington House & near Rathfarnham, also Hornbeam's Catkins out behind Willington House & Poplar in Butterfield Lane (? P. canescens). Just before starting out & while still raining a Bumble Bee flew past me in back garden, but species not seen. 22nd March 1948. Bombus agrorum ♀︎ at flowers of Flowering Currant in back garden at 2 P.M. Flower spikes on Carex stricta by motor house wall showing, well up! 340. 22.3.48, cont. At 2 P.M. saw ♀︎ sawfly, Pteronidea ribesii investigating buds of White Currant in back garden, though in this particular bush only a few buds showing signs of opening & none really in leaf. White Currant against Motor House (in NW. corner) with several flower tassels out. 23rd March 1948. A beautiful sunny morning & evening, but dull in afternoon; white frost (slight) at night. During lunch saw Bombus jonellus ♀︎ at flowers of Mediterranean Heath in back garden; also saw ♀︎ B agrorum enter tunnel in cushion of Saxifraga sternbergii leading towards patch of Dryas in W. border back garden. 24th March 1948. A most perfect day after a white frost - very hot sun all day & practically no wind; gentle breeze from S. in hills & from E. nearer coast. At 2 P.M. saw Small White Butterfly in back garden chased over wall by a Peacock Butterfly, which returned & sunned itself on E. border; also ♀︎ B. terrestris on Flowering Currant. Odd flowers on S. side of Korokia bush out & a whole spray of flowers at top of bush. Red Saxifrage in front garden ready to open.