Meteorology. 39 



Rev. Mr Andson seconded the vote of thanks. He had, he 

 said, had a conversation with Mr Day, bird-stuffer, from wliom 

 he learned that two rare birds, the Spotted Craik and the Grey 

 Phalarope, had come into his hands tliis season — the former 

 found at Carnsalloch, the latter (a migrating bird, about the size 

 of a thrush) at Barncleuch in Irongray. He had also received 

 two jays, and the king-fisher he saw often along the river banks. 



The vote was conve} ed in complimentary terms by the Chair- 

 man (Mr Barbour). Mr Maxwell, in acknowledging it, made 

 reference to the great destruction of eggs of the nightingale in 

 England by bird collectors. In one district of Norfolk he had 

 heard of some persons collecting as many as two or three hundred. 

 If it was possible to exterminate a bird which was only a summer 

 visitor, the nightingale would have been exterminated long ago 

 by the egg collectors. 



2. The Meteorology of Dumfries for 1897. 



By Rev. Wm. Andson. 



Barometrical Observations. — The highest reading of the 

 barometer in 1897 occurred on the 20th and 22nd November 

 when it rose to 30'650 inches. The lowest was on the 3rd 

 March, when it fell to 28'745 inches, giving an annual range of 

 1-905 inch. Besides the month of March there were other two 

 months in which r(;adings under 29 inches were recorded, viz., 

 once in the end of November and four times in December. The 

 months in which the lowest means of barometrical pressure 

 occurred were March, August, and December, ranging from 

 29500 inches in March to 29*744 inches in December; and 

 these were tlie months in which cyclones were most prevalent 

 and which were marked by the heaviest rainfalls. The last 

 week of December in particular was characterised by a succession 

 of cyclonic storms and an abnormally heavy rainfall, which 

 caused the Hooding of the river Nith and of the low-lying lands 

 along its banks to an extent seldom experienced. On the 27th 

 the gauge at the New Bridge showed a mean depth of nine feet, 

 and on the 30th of eleven feet, while the Whitesands and the 

 Dock Park were flooded with water, which surrounded the 

 Hoddom Castle Inn and extended some way up the foot of the 

 Vennel and Nith Place. The months which had the highest 



