Meteorological Observations. 79 



Vienna from North Africa, and will therefore be that of O. nubicus 

 (H. Smith ; Bp. Consp. p. 10), if that species is really distinct from 

 the southern O. auricularis. The long diameter of this ^^'^ is 3*9, 

 the short diameter 2*8 inches. 



The egg of the Parson-bird or Tui, Prosthemadera novce seelandice 

 (Gm.), was taken in New Zealand in 1852 by Dr. White. Its colour- 

 ing is somewhat different from that of the other Honey-eaters with 

 which we are acquainted, not presenting the usual rich red ground- 

 colour which is the general characteristic of the eggs of that family 

 of birds. The long diameter of this egg is 1*0, the short diameter 

 0*75 inch. — Proc. Zool. Soc. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS FOR MAY 1855. 



Chiswick. — May 1. Densely clouded : dry haze : clear. 2. Clear : sharp frost at 

 night. 3. Fine : densely overcast. 4. Cloudy and cold : frosty. 5. Excessively dry 

 air, with bright sun. 6. Fine. 7. Fine : overcast : boisterous at night. 8. Cloudy.- 

 clear, with sharp frost at night. 9. Fine : rain at night. 10. Cloudy. 11. Cloudy 

 and fine : thunder-storm in afternoon : clear. 12. Cloudy and cold : very clear : 

 frosty. 13. Overcast : boisterous, with heavy rain at night. 14. Cloudy. 15. 

 Cloudy : rain. 16. Cloudy: clear and frosty at night. 17 — 19. Very fine. 20. 

 Foggy: very fine. 21. Overcast. 22. Cloudy. 23— 25. Fine. 26. Very fine : 

 hot and dry. 27. Slight haze : cloudy : rain. 28. Rain. 29. Cloudy : showery. 

 30. Cold showers. 31. Rain. 



Mean temperature of the month 48°-88 



Mean temperature of May 1854 50*07 



Mean temperature of May for the last twenty-nine years ... 53 "72 

 Average amount of rain in May 1'85 inch. 



Boston. — May 1. Cloudy. 2. Fine. 3. Cloudy : rain and snow p.m. 4 — 6. 

 Cloudy. 7. Cloudy : rain a.m. and p.m. 8. Cloudy : rain, hail and snow p.m. 

 9. Cloudy. 10. Cloudy: rain a.m. and p.m. 11. Cloudy: rain p.m. 12. Fine. 

 13. Cloudy: rain p.m. 14. Cloudy. 15. Cloudy: rain a.m. 16,17. Cloudy: 

 rain p.m. 18—20. Cloudy. 21. Cloudy : rain a.m. and p.m. 22. Cloudy. 23 — 



28. Fine. 29 — 31. Cloudy : rain a.m. and p.m. 



Sandwich Manse, Orkney. — May 1. Cloudy a.m.: clear, fine p.m. 2. Drizzle a.m. : 

 showers p.m. 3. Hail-showers a.m. and p.m. 4. Cloudy a.m. : clear p.m. 5. 

 Cloudy A.M.: rain p.m. 6. Sleet-showers a.m. and p.m. 7, 8. Sleet-showers a.m. : 

 cloudy p.m. 9. Hail, frost a.m. : clear p.m. 10. Bright a.m. : cloudy p.m. 11. 

 Clear A.M. and P.M. 12,13. Bright a.m. : cloudy p.m. 14. Cloudy a.m. : clear 

 p.m. 15. Showers a.m. : cloudy p.m. 16. Cloudy a.m. : showers p.m. 17. Bright 

 A.M.: drops p.m. 18. Bright a.m. : cloudy p.m. 19. Showers a.m. : cloudy p.m. 

 20. Bright a.m. : clear, fine p.m. 21. Cloudy a.m. and p.m. 22. Small rain a.m. 

 and P.M. 23. Small rain a.m. : clear, fine p.m. 24, 25. Hazy a.m. and p.m. 26. 

 Drops A.M. : cloudy p.m. 27. Hazy a.m. and p.m. 28. Cloudy a.m. and p.m. 



29. Bright a.m. : clear p.m. 30. Cloudy a.m. and p.m. 31. Clear a.m. and p.m. 

 This month has been remarkably cold, the mean temperature being lower than 



that of any May during the twenty-eight years of my observations, — 4°'18 below 

 the average, and the first half of it was only about the average temperature of 

 March. 



Mean temperature of May for twenty-eight previous years . 47''*99 



Mean temperature of this month 43 '81 



Mean temperature of May 1854 48 '39 



Average quantity of rain in May for fourteen previous years 1 68 inch. 



