AND METEOKOLOGY OF THE YEAH liELATIVE THERETO. 355 



to the mouth of the Spey, it rose generally to nearly a half more 

 than the average. Over the whole of the north-east of Scotland, 

 between the Spey and the Dee, the rainfall was from a third to 

 a half deficient ; whilst on the other hand, from the Dee to the 

 Forth, some of the heaviest rain and snow falls of the season 

 occurred. Thus at Fettercairn, the excess for the month was 

 183, and at Loch Leven and Cupar 122 per cent. On the south 

 shores of the Firth of Forth the aqueous precipitation was less 

 than the average, in several places only a half ; whilst over the 

 Pentland Hills and upper reaches of the Clyde and the Tweed 

 there was an excess of from 64 to 80 per cent., and. over the 

 higher ground in the east of Berwick an excess of 30 to 40 per 

 cent, occurred. 



Apkil. — The temperature of this month w^as 2''"4 under the 

 average of the month, the greater part of this diminution of tem- 

 perature being due to the colder nights, the deficiency of which 

 was double that of the days. The sunshine was a few hours 

 above the average, but the continued prevalence of east and north- 

 east winds kept down the temperature. As happens with easterly 

 winds, especially as the spring advances, the deficiency of tem- 

 perature was very much greater on the eastern slopes of the 

 country than in the west. Thus on the Lower Tweed, the 

 deficiency was 4^-0, but at Ardrossan only l^'-o ; at Aberdeen it 

 was 2°'D, but in Skye it was about the average ; and midland 

 districts were intermediate. Everywhere over Scotland, except 

 tlie north-west of Sutherland, the rainfall was below, and very 

 greatly below, the average. The deficiency was distributed over 

 the country in a remarkably uniform manner, being generally 

 about 50 per cent., falling, however, in a few isolated localities 

 as low as 75 per cent. The weather of the month, tlierefore, was 

 remarkably cold and dry. 



May. — This month stands out as the only e.xceptional month 

 to the prevalent cold weather of the year, the temperature having 

 been V'S above the average. This excess was wholly due to the 

 greater warmth of the days ; in other words, to the stronger sun- 

 shine. Indeed, during the last quarter of a century, the day 

 temperature of May was only once exceeded, viz., in 1859, when 

 it was 61°7, or 2°-'S higher than last year. In May 1881, cloud 

 was 20 per cent, less than the average: sunshine 16 per cent, 

 above it, and as happen in such warm weather thunder-storms 

 were greatly in exc<^ss, being nearly douljle the average. All 

 tlie.se j>eculiarities attained a maximum during the last week 

 of the month, when, indeed, over the greater part of Scotland, the 

 highest temperatures for the year were recorded. The excess of 

 temperature wa.s very decidedly greatest in the west. Thus 

 while at Kyemouth, Aberdeen, and Dunrobin in the east, the 

 excess was respectively TO, 1^-6, and 0°'9; at Callton Mor, South 



