TAKEX AT WAXSFORB HOUSE, WATFOED, 1878. 215 



Rain fell every day to the 9tli (inclusive), ceasing with the rise 

 in pressure and fall in temperature, none falling from the 10th to 

 the 18th, after which, with one exception, there was rain or snow 

 every day to the 28th, but with no very heavy fall. 



Hoar frosts were recorded on the mornings of the 1st, 11th, 18th, 

 27th, 30th, and Slst.-' 



Febeuaet. 



The pressure of the atmosphere was higher than in any other 

 month in the year, and was more equable than in Januaiy, the 

 range being 0-843 in., from 29-800 ins. on the 14th to 30-643 ins. 

 on the 22nd. For five consecutive days, the 4th to the 8th, the 

 mercury stood above the unusual height of 30-500 ins.,f and the 

 readings were below 30 inches on six days only. 



The temperature of the air continued about the same as in 

 January, the mean only showing an increase of 1°-1. The first 

 half of the month was, indeed, considerably colder than the average 

 of January, while the last half was much Avarmer, the mean from 

 the 1st to the 12th being 34°-9, and from the 13th to the 28th, 

 44°-2. The maximum on the 17th (58^*8) calls for special remark 

 as being unusually high for February. 



The wind was westerly the first three days, easterly the next 

 three, and generally S. to W. to the end of the month. 



Scarcely any rain fell until the 8th, from which day to the 17th 



* Although not connected with these observations at Watford, and perhaps 

 more a geological than a meteorological phenomenon, this may be the only 

 opportunity I may have of recording the extension to om- County of the shock of 

 earthquake which was felt in the south of England on the 28th of this month. 

 Particulars of the shock as felt in the neighbourhood of London, in Kent, Sussex, 

 Hampshire (including the Isle of Wight), Somersetshire, Devonshire, the Channel 

 Islands, and at Paris, are given by our honorary member, Mr. J. G. Symons, 

 F.R.S., in his ' Monthly Meteorological Jlagazine,' vol. xiii, p. 2, and in the 

 ' Herts Advertiser ' of the 1st of February the following letter appeared : — 



*' To the Editor of the Herts Advertiser. 



" Sir, — On Monday last I was in an upper room of my house and distinctly felt 

 a tremor or shaking of the room, so much so that I inquired if any heavy furni- 

 ture was being moved in the lower rooms, or other cause. From the reports in 

 the newspapers I find an earthquake has been felt in various parts of the country 

 at the same time. This was about noon, the atmosphere was calm and my 

 surroundings perfectly quiet. The trembling appeared to be between N.E. and 

 S.W. There were three or four distinct vibrations. I unsuccessfully attempted 

 to similarly shake the room, and came to the conclusion it was an earthquake, in 

 which I have, from reports, been since justified. — Yours respectfully, 



" St. Peter's, St. Albans, H. G. Martin." 



Jan. ZQth, 1878. 



The time stated, "about noon," must have been about ll-5o a.m., for the 

 other records give the time as from about ll-oO to " a few minutes to 12," and the 

 shock is supposed to have emanated " south of Paris — possibly under Auvergne." 

 (Symons, loc. cit.) 



t The following are the readings of the barometer taken at 9 a.m. on these 

 days (corrected and reduced) : -4th, 30-577 ins. ; 5th, 30-G35 ins. ; Gth, 30-595 

 ins.; 7th, 30-641 ins. ; 8th, 30-612 ins. 



