10 



being 14;{ iu February, 1857. The lowest record of the solar-thermometer 

 was Hla on the 27th, but on twenty-two out of the twenty-eiglit days of the 

 inontli, tlic records exceeded 100 degrees. 



The terrestrial radiation seff-rer/isteriiu/ thermometer on the grass, gave a 

 mean of 54 20 degrees, which is 4-4-73 more than the 20 years' average, 

 and +5-02 above last yeai's mean. The extremes were, 61 in the night of the 

 •Jth, 44 "5 in that of the 1st. No February in the previous 10 years gave so 

 warm an earth temperature as the present month. 



iJam fell only on the 1st, 9th, 12th, and 28th days of the month, to the 

 aggregate amount of '55 of an inch, which is— 92 of au inch below the 20 

 years' average for February. In 1865 there were 15 wet days in February, 

 and a total rain-fall of 2-94 inches. Out of the previous 25 years, eight had 

 even a smaller rain-fall than the present month. No snon: appeared on Mount 

 Wellington during the montli, as there di I in February 1865. 



Spontaneous-evaporation amounted to 5 85 inches, being much the highest 

 aiuount in any February since 1856, during which period ouly have records 

 been kept. 



Elastic-force of vapour mean was 405 being -f32 above the 20 years' average, 

 and -M2 more than 1865 had. The extremes were 672 at 1 p.m., on the 12th, 

 283 at 7 a.m., on the 20th. In the previous 25 years, only 1861, 1858, 1857, 

 and 1856, had a higher mean. 



Humidity mean was 66, being —4^ below the 20 years' mean, and —8 less 

 than in 1865. 



Cload mean was only 4 -66, which is— I'OS less than the 20 years' average, and 

 —1-84 below 1865. In the 25 years' records, only Februaries 1858 and 1844 had 

 a smaller mean. 



Ozone had the maximum of 10 (saturation) on the 12th and 28th, and the 

 minimum of 5 on the 2nd. The mean, 8-05 being -f 1 '04 higher than the 

 mean of the previous 8 years, and even -I-0-24 above 1865. This high degree 

 of serial purity must principally have arisen from the numerous sea-breezes, 

 together, perhaps, with the abundance of positive electricity. While many 

 other of the phenomena this month were adverse to health and life, their 

 evil influences wei'e much counteracted by this very general atmosi^heric 

 purity. 



Elecfricifi/ had 16 positive indications, with maximum tension of 6 '5, while 

 February 1865 had only 3 with maximum tension of 4. Negative indications 

 were 38, with maximum tension of 6.5 also— 1865 had 42 negative records with 

 maximum tension of 7. "Nil" was only registered twice, on the 9th and 

 12th. In February 1865 there were 11 "nils." Lightning was seen on the 

 evening of the 1 9th, the day after the hot wind. No Thunder was heard 

 during the month. 



The 54 Deaths in the present month are —5 4-9ths l^ss than the February 

 average of the previous nine years, - five out of the nine having a much larger 

 mortality, 1857 the same in number, last year one less only, but 1864 and 1861 

 respectively 7 and 12 less. The analysis of the ages at death, and the diseases 

 causing death, will, however, give a clearer idea of the lethal peculiarities of 

 the month under review. 



