NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 297 



denuded of trees. On Lanrick Castle grounds, near Doune, 4561 

 trees, mostly, however, of small size, were blown down. 



At Dunipace, a very large beech succumbed, and almost the 

 entire flat roof of the house was stripped of the lead — some 18 cwt. 

 One piece of 34 cwt. was carried outwards from the house 32 feet, 

 and the remainder was wrapped round the north chimney like a 

 huge Ulster coat or Highland cloak — one great mass lying over the 

 top and projecting like a hood [ojx cit., p. 730]. 



On the 30th December snow fell in considerable quantities in 

 various parts of Scotland. 



In the gale of 28th December many sea-birds are reported to 

 have perished among the Hebrides, and southwards, towards the 

 Mull of Kintyre, scores of dead ones having been seen floating. 

 At Dougalston, Stirlingshire, 89 trees, mostly spruce, were blown 

 down in an area about 70 by 20 yards. 



The following letter from Professor Grant appeared in the 

 Glasgow Herald on December 30th : — 



" (To the Editor of the Glasgow Herald.) 



"The Observatory, December 29, 1879. 



" Sir, — The storm with which Scotland was visited on Sunday, 

 the 28th inst., and which, alas ! will be hereafter associated with 

 an event that may be justly said to have brought sorrow to every 

 hearth of our country, was one of the most violent that has 

 occurred for many years. Nothing approaching to it has passed over 

 Glasgow since the memorable storm of January 24, 1868. The 

 system of self-recording instruments which has been established 

 here, in connection with the Meteorological Office in London, 

 enables us to obtain a complete pictorial representation of the 

 various meteorological circumstances which occur from the com- 

 mencement to the final termination of every storm which passes 

 over the Observatory. It may, therefore, not be uninteresting to 

 place before the readers of the Herald some of the results which 

 have been obtained in connection with the late storm. 



The aspect of things on Saturday, which was the day preceding 

 the storm, was ominous of a change for the worse in the state of 

 the weather. The barometer continued to fall steadily during the 

 day, resulting finally in torrents of rain, which fell without inter- 

 mission during the whole night. On Sunday morning, however, 

 the heavens wore a more favourable aspect. The barometer was 



