yamiary 28, 1878. 



The President, Dr. Engelmann, in the chair. Twelve mem- 

 bers present. 



Dr. Engehnann read the following communication on 



THE TEMPERATURE OF DECEMBER, 1877. 



The unusually warm weather of last December has attracted very general 

 attention, and justly so. Its mean temperature was at my station 46.8 

 degrees, which is 13.2 degrees higher than the average (33.6) of 42 years, 

 23.5 degrees higher than the coldest December we have had (23.3 in 187a 

 and 1876) and 4.9 degrees warmer than the warmest December (41.9 in 

 1875) I had before experienced here. A singular coincidence, if merely 

 coincidence it is, strikes every one here. Some of the warmest and coldest 

 Decembers of 42 years are crowded together within the short space of 6 

 years, and within the last 3 years we have had one of the coldest between 

 two of the warmest Decembers. 



December having been so unusually warm, what may be inferred in re- 

 gard to the temperature of the balance of the winter.? In answer I have 

 nothing to offer but the experience of former years. 



The last one was the fourth December in 42 years, the mean tempera- 

 ture of which rose above 40 degrees. The following table will show the 

 temperature of the warm Decembers and of the three succeeding months : 



It is here seen that, after an unusually warm December, January was 

 always from nearly 6 to nearly 9 degrees warmer than the average ; Feb- 

 ruary was once colder, once warmer, and once about equal to the average; 

 March was once warmer, once colder, and once equal. We may expect 

 therefore, judging from past experience, a mild January (which does not 

 mean that an occasional fall of the thermometer below zero may not take 

 place), a doubtful February, and, if both be mild, possibly a cold March 

 and a late spring. 



Just as December was so much warmer than usual, so the vegetation 

 became more spring-like; there were many early blooming trees and 

 shrubs — so early, in fact, as to threaten the destruction of their flower- 

 buds. 



Dr. Engelmann read the following note on 



