The Meteorology of Whitehaven. 347 



uerdale Lake, leaving about as many more which were not fully ex- 

 panded. Some of the flowers had bloomed and withered, and others 

 seemed to have been out for a week or more. Primroses were gathered 

 in Lamplugh on Candlemas day. The thrush and blackbird, with many 

 of the feathered tribe, may be daily heard tuning their notes in concert, 

 to welcome the approach of an early spring. The precocity of the vege- 

 table kingdom is most remarkable, and very striking to the eye. Grass, 

 in particular, has grown considerably of late, and the pastures look more 

 green and healthy than we have seen them do in the middle of May, in 

 some cold and backward seasons. The elder and woodbine, in sheltered 

 spots, are nearly in full leaf. Near Cockermouth the wild gooseberry 

 bushes are in leaf; in the gardens they are in flower, and in some situ- 

 ations tliey may be seen bearing fruit. On the 19th, the note of the 

 cuckoo was distinctly heard in the grounds of William Knowles, Esq. of 

 Sandford House, Bootle, Liverpool. A Liverpool gentleman informs me 

 that he saw a swallow at Aigburth on the 28th instant, and another at 

 the same place on the 2d of March. The cuckoo heard, and the swallow 

 seen in the month of February ! truly, this is a most extraordinary season. 

 A scientific friend in a letter dated the 13th, states that a thrush's nest, 

 containing eggs, was lately found at Rawden, near Leeds. 



March y although colder than either of the preceding months, is 

 2'^687 above the average temperature. Severe frosts on the nights of 

 the 18th, 19th, and 20th ; also a fall of snow on the 21st, which covered 

 the ground to the average depth of about 4^ inches. 



On the 21st. and also on the 2 2d, the cuckoo was distinctly heard in 

 the neighbourhood of St Bees, by an inhabitant of that village, the tem- 

 perature being lower than it has been at any period during the winter. 

 Between the 22d and 28th, its note was heard in various parts of the 

 county. On the 28th, pear tree blossoms was fully expanded in this 

 neighourhood. On the night of the 3d, a dreadful hurricane occurred at 

 Glasgow ; and at 9 a. m. of the 4th, the anemometer at tlie Observatory 

 indicated a pressure of 45 lb. on the square foot, or lo lb. more than the 

 force of the memorable 7th January 1839. At Whitehaven, the pres- 

 sure on the 2d was 8'68 lb. ; on i]\e 3d and 4th it was not noted ; but by 

 far the heaviest gale we had during the month, or probably through the 

 winter, was on the 16th, when the horizontal force of the wind by Lind's 

 anemometer, was 21|^ lb. on the square foot. A number of dreadful 

 thunder storms occurred in various parts of the kingdom between the 

 24th and 31st, attended with great loss of life. 



April. — Temperature 0°17 above average. On the 10th, the lo butter- 

 fly began to appear. A swallow was seen at Bray stones about the 8tb, 

 but they did not generally make their appearance till the 22d. Heard 

 the corncrake on the 24th, being at least a week earlier than usual. 



May. — Mean temperature '14 above the average. From 9 a.m. to 

 3 or 4 p. M. of the 7th, there was the most magnificent solar halo I ever 

 beheld. It extended over a space of 49° or 50° ; at Ih. 45m., altitude 

 of upper edge 74° ; under edge 25° ; the sun being 49° in altitute, and 

 consequently nearly in the centre of the ring. The prismatic colours 

 were very distinct and brilliant from 11 to 3 or 4 p.m., and most so to- 

 wards the upper or northern portion of the circle. The phenomenon was 

 formed through a thin veil of cirrus which prevailed in the SW. 



