462 



TRANS. ST. LOUIS ACAD. SCIENCE. 



in fifty-two years, while there have been 16 cool, 1 1 mild, and 10 

 warm Januaries. 



Some years since Dr. Engelmann stated, that, according to 

 past experience, a warm December is likely to be followed by a 

 warm January and February. This seems to have a rational ba- 

 sis, as the earth when kept warm during December is likely to 

 aftect the character of the following months. 



The following table gives the character of the months follow- 

 ing the very warm and warm Decembers, and the final column 

 gives the character of the January and February following, taken 

 as a whole : 



In two cases of a warm December the remaining portion of 

 the winter was normal, while in four cases it was above normal. 

 Only one out of the twelve winter months which followed warm 

 Decembers was really cold, viz., February, 185S, having a mean 

 of 27.1, or 7°. 9 below the average of.53 years. 



In case of the 13 mild Decembers, the character of the rest of 

 the winter was 



Below normal 5 times, 



Above '' 6 " 



Normal 2 *' 



The 14 normal Decembers were followed by winter weather: 



Above normal 4 times, 



Below normal 6 " 



Normal 4 " 



The 13 cool Decembers were followed by winter weather: 



Above normal 4 times, 



Below " 5 " 



Normal 4 " 



In all of these cases, excepting warm and very warm Decem- 



