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256.)

5 to 9. Feb. 1952, cont.

growth in garden & the early Mediterranean Heath opened its first flower (stamens protruding!).  On 7th we saw several purple crocuses out in garden on S. side of Garville Avenue & many more Snowdrops now in gardens in the district.


10th-15th Feb. '52. 

Fine sunny days & frosty nights for the most part but rain nearly all day on 11th.  On 15th (the day of King George sixth's funeral in London) the first yellow Crocus opened during the afternoon in hot sun, after a hard frosty night.  On 13th saw the four Oyster Catchers in same field as on 6th. between Crumlin X road & Whitehall Rd. (on way to Willington Ho.).  The Twites not seen in field S. of Butterfield "Avenue" for some time now!


16th-17th. Feb. '52. 
Cold gone!  Cloudy & mild on both days!


18th-19th. Feb. '52. 

Dull in early morning, then gloriously fine with hot sun at midday & dull again in afternoon on 18th, when I rode on bike (alone) to Rathfarnham to Ballyboden & up Military Road to top of Woodtown hill, down to Orlagh College gate & home via Old Bawn & Firhouse.  Dull all day on 19th in afternoon of which walked to Churchtown via Classon's Bridge over Dodder & thence by field path past Lamb's fruit garden to The Narrow Walls & Rathfarnham.

Saw 5 Oyster Catchers in grazing field just S of Hughes's milk-bottling works.


257.)

20th-22nd. Feb. 1952. 

Three dry days, mainly dull, no frost but not very mild in wind, wind W-NW.  On 20th saw Alder catkins (♂︎) well out by the Dodder above Dartry.  On 22nd took bus to Old Bawn & walked to Ballyboden via Orlagh College & up to Military Rd.;  saw one flower on Coltsfoot in ditch besides the Ballyboden reservoir.  Caught 4 P.M. bus home from Ballyboden.


23rd Feb. 1952 
A most perfect day, with much very hot sun & no wind.  Leaves of Anemone appenina above soil & buds of large Snowdon Sax. oppositifolia showing purple in front garden;  about 2 dozen yellow Crocuses out.


24th Feb. 52. 

A most perfect day (Sunday) after white frost at night.  In forenoon took 54 bus to Crumlin Cross & walked via the Greenhills, Tymon Castle & Firhouse to Charlesville Ho. where got bus home.  On this same day R.C. Faris "swept a few sq. perches in our haggard & in a young orchard", i.e. at Farrinseer, Co. Cavan, & sent me the following Hymenoptera taken in the sweep.

Farrinseer, Cornafean, Co. Cavan. R.C. Faris.

Hemiteles cf. gracilis  ♀︎, ant 19.
Sigalphus caudatus or floricola?  ♂︎, dark legs, ant. 19.  A very early date!
Monoctonus caricis  4♂︎♂︎, dark legs; ant. all 16.
Aphidius avenae?  2 large ♂︎♂︎, ant. 20 & 21.
A. sp.  1 small ♂︎, ant. 17
Procto. 1. 
Exallonys sp.  1 minute ♂︎.
Cynipids  4♂︎♂︎, 1♀︎, all same species, I think!