Abstract
THE new phenological forms distributed by the Royal Meteorological Society to its six-hundred-odd observers for 1939 have a further reconstruction of selected specimens of fauna and flora on a much more scientific basis. A noticeable feature is a considerable increase in the number of Lepidoptera selected for special observation, there being fifty selected indigenous Lepidoptera the appearance of which is to be recorded, and three immigrants. This has been at the expense of a considerable reduction in the bird migration list, as many of those subjects had been reported on continuously for many years. There has been an extension in the selected observations on trees, chiefly in regard to leafing times. The modern system of Latin bird names is now used, although observers are warned that the old system is still used in some reference books. Particular stress is laid on the importance of recording the effects of abnormal weather upon the vegetation, etc. Spring and early summer appearance dates of the peacock and red admiral butterflies should help gather additional information regarding the question of their hibernation. A valuable addition to the recording of flowering of plants and leafing of trees is the recording, as well as the date, of the sheltered or open position of the plant. On the whole, the amount of observation called for has been considerably increased, but individual phenologists are encouraged to send in returns of anv one group if they wish.
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The Phenological Survey. Nature 143, 236–237 (1939). https://doi.org/10.1038/143236c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/143236c0