44 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



On 16. xii. 80 TJie Scotsman said — After several weeks of com- 

 paratively mild weather for the season it has again assumed a 

 wintry aspect. The slight frost on Tuesday was succeeded by a 

 fall of snow which lay generally over Scotland to a depth of from 

 3 to 6 inches. This was succeeded by frost on the 20th. In the 

 Aberfeldy district the snow reached a depth of about 30 inches. 

 There were blocks on the Highland Railway at Dalwhinnie, and 

 on the Peebles branch of the North British Railway. On the west 

 coast the snow on the 19th was accompanied by a fierce gale. 

 Mild weather succeeded up to 22nd or 23rd. 



From the Outer Hebrides my correspondents report that there 

 was very disagreeable weather most of the winter : very little frost 

 or snow, but tremendous gales of wind, with rain ; the lochs only 

 once frozen over, and then only for two or three days. 



Over Scotland frost set in again on 24th Dec, and with north and 

 east winds continued for some time. Snow-storms of much severity, 

 with drifts of great depth, occurred over the North. Blocks took 

 place on the Highland line in Caithness, on the Great Northern in 

 Aberdeenshire, and on the Caledonian, near Stonehaven. About 

 1000 men at work on the Great Northern on the 26th clearing the 

 main line and Alford branch drifts of 6 to 9 feet ; in the North 

 and in Glenalmond and Glenqueich, 15 to 20 feet were noted — 

 [Scotsman, 23. xii. 80]. 



Up to 11th January, 1881, frost continued almost unchecked, 

 and ice reached a thickness of 3 to 4 inches on still ponds and 

 lochs. On that night a general snow-fall with keen frost, and on 

 forenoon of 12th 3 inches fell, followed by high winds and snow 

 from E. and N.E. Frost again on 13th, clear and calm. At this 

 date traffic on canals became difficult, the Forth and Clyde canal 

 being almost closed. — [Edin. Courant, 13. i. 81.] Papers full of 

 accounts of railway blocks, suspended traffic, and gales with snow- 

 drifts, all over Scotland. The great drifts were caused by the 

 extreme dryness of the snow. Frost on 12th "intense" — [Edin. 

 Courant, 13. i. 81]; on night of 13th the thermometer registered 

 3° below zero. Rivers frozen completely over, except at streams. 

 At Inverness and Galashiels temperature extremely low — 3° to 5°. 

 Frost general. 



In the Outer Hebrides the season continued unusually mild and 

 open — [Inverness Courier, &c.]. At Inverness on night of 13th Jan. 

 frost intense. At 5 p.m. 23° of frost was registered at Inverness, and 



