TiiK Meteorology or 1898. 51 



the mildness of our climate in the British Islands — especially when 

 they prevail to an unusual extent in what would otherwise Ije the 

 coldest months, viz., January and December, which was remark- 

 ably the case during- the past year. As 1 mentioned before, Janu- 

 ary had 26 and December 27 days witli southerly to westerly 

 winds. But parti}' also the mildness of our climate, especially 

 in the winter months, is due to our insular situation, and to 

 the influence of the Gulf Stream, that gTeat oceanic current 

 which conveys no small amount of heat from the tropical regions 

 to the shores of our islands, and which is not varying and 

 irregular like the winds, but a constant factor, which never 

 ceases to modify the low temperatures, which might otherwise 

 be our lot. If it were not for these modifying causes the winter 

 climate of Great Britain would be by many degrees colder than 

 it is, and would resemble that of those countries on the Continent 

 which are situated in the same latitude. 



Mr Murray beg'ged to propose a hearty vote of thanks to 

 Rev. Mr Andson for his valuable and accurate paper. The atten- 

 tion Mr Andson had given to that work for so many years had 

 made his paper a valuable addition to their Tra?isactions. They 

 regretted his absence, and hoped he would soon be restored to 

 health. (Applause.) 



Mr Clark, in seconding, said he thought the paper a 

 entirely interesting one, and particularly dealing with the annus 

 mirabilis^ as Mr Andson termed it. It was particularly interesting 

 at the present moment as a reminder to them that there was some 

 dry weather in 1898 — (laughter) — and that 1899 was doing its 

 best to make itself an annus mirabilis too in regard to rainfall. 

 (Laughter and applause.) 



Dr Ross said he had received from Mr Rutherford, Jardine- 

 ton, who was unable to be present, a record of the rainfall he had 

 taken there during the year, which showed a total of 33-G8 

 inches, a difference of '03 less than at Dumfries during the year. 

 There were, however, greater variations during the months, the 

 records being as follow : — January — Jardineton 2-78, Dumfries 

 2-22; February — Jardineton 3-41, Dumfries 3-45; March — Jar- 

 dineton 0-90, Dumfi'ies 0-79 ; April — Jardineton 2-90, Dumfries 

 3'55 ; May — Jardineton 2-32, Dumfries 2'3o ; June — Jardineton 



