172 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



30'40 ; a rapid fall from that point to 2S'50 on the SOth marked 

 the widest range of pressure in any month of the year. In no 

 month was the pressure so high, and only on one occasion was it 

 lower, viz., on the 5th March, when it was down to 28 '30. 



Frost, to the amount of 72°, was registered over thirteen morn- 

 ings. The three coldest days were the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, when, 

 during the prevalence of the dense, black fogs, the day temperatures, 

 as indicated by the maximum thermometer, were 34°, 34°, and 

 30°^ while the night or minimum temperatures were 20°, 24°, and 

 23° respectively. The average maximum temperature was 43° 

 and the minimum 33° — the former 3° and the latter 2° higher 

 than in December, 1896. 



Whether owing to the want of ripening or a proper period of 

 rest, the open weather had no marked effect on those plants 

 which are usually characteristic of December, as the Jasminum 

 nudijlorum^ LindL, and the Christmas Roses were later in 

 blooming and less profusely flowered than usual. Autumn- 

 planted bulbs, however, started into growth quickly, and in 

 sheltered places the buds of the Common Elder (Sambucus nigra, 

 Linn.) and its congeners expanded considerably. Many autumn- 

 flowering perennials also kept growing and flowering intermittently, 

 whilst the grass was remarkably green at the close of the month. 



On comparing the records of previous years, it will be noticed 

 that the rainfall of 1897 has been much above the average. The 

 amount registered, 40*22 inches, has been only once exceeded 

 during the past twelve years, that being in 1894, when the 

 rainfall amounted to 41 '48 inches. In comparison with what 

 was recorded for 1896, when the amount was 33*90 inches, which 

 is about the average for the district, the excess is very striking. 

 The months in which the highest rainfall was recorded were June 

 with 5*67 inches, and December with 5*56 inches. The occasions 

 when the quantity which fell within twenty-four hours was much 

 over an inch (which is equal to 100 tons per acre), are worthy of 

 special note, viz.: — on 16th June, 1*60; on 11th August, 1*50; 

 and on 27th December, 1*20 inches. The greatest amount for one 

 day in 1896 was 1-22 inches on 9th July. 



January proved to be the driest month of the year, its 

 rainfall being only 1*22 inches. In the two preceding years May 



