28 APRIL 1950, Page 22

Punctual Birds

Is it an early spring? Most of the migrant birds, swallow, cuckoo and nightingale at any rate, have turned up pat to the standard dates. The few unduly early appearances, as of black-cap and perhaps of moth and butterfly, are or may be explained by hibernation. On the other hand, some flowers are well before their time. The may will be in blossom here and there in April ; and there are years when it waits almost till June. The grim Ice Saints of the second week of May will be too late to do harm, we may confidently expect, to the plum and pear blossom, which made a glorious display a fortnight ago.*