Transactions. 85 



Barometer. — The highest reading occurred on the 3rd day of 

 January, when it rose to 30-697 in., and the lowest on 11th of 

 February, when it fell to 28-587 in., giving an annual range of 

 2-110 in. There is reason to believe, however, that a considerably 

 lower fall than that of the 11th February took place on the night 

 of the 21.st or morning of the 22nd December, the period of the 

 recent severe storm, when so much damage was done both by sea 

 and land. The reading of the barometer at 9 a.m. of the 22nd 

 was 28-590 in., a fraction higher than that of the 11th February. 

 But before that hour it had began to rise, and the deepest part of 

 the depression in all probability passed over this district in the 

 early morning, perhaps between 2 and 4 or 3 and 5 a.m. This 

 may certainly be inferred from the fact that in other places 

 where barometer readings were taken every hour during the 

 progress of the storm decidedly lower readings were registered. 

 At Leith, for example, where this was done, the barometer fell to 

 28-119 in. between 6 and 6.30 a.m., and by 9 a.m. it had risen to 

 28-384 in. As the movement of the cyclone was from S.S.W. to 

 N.N.E., the centre of the depression must have passed over 

 Dumfries at an earlier hour than 6 a.m., most probably between 

 2 and 4 a.m., and there is no reasonable doubt would have shown, 

 if registered, an equally low reading with that at Leith. The 

 fluctuations of that period were extraordinary, and are believed 

 to have been almost unprecedented for the rapidity both of fall 

 and rise. At 9 a.m. of the 21st the reading of the barometer was 

 29-905 in., by 9 p.m. it had fallen to 29-383 in.; and if our 

 inference is correct, that by 4 a.m. of the 22nd it liad gone down 

 to about 28-20 in., this would have shown a fall of 1-7 in. in 19 

 hours ; but it rose again with almost equal rapidity. During the 

 twelve hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. of the 22nd the rise was from 

 28-590 in. to 29-810 in., and by the morning of tlie 23rd it had 

 risen to 30 in. On the 28th and 29th December there was a 

 somewhat similar storm, with a rapid fall and rise of the 

 barometer, but of considerably less intensity, altliough severe 

 enough to do a good deal of damage. The fall on that occasion 

 was from 30189 in. on the morning of the 28th to 29-033 on 

 that of the 29th — a fall of 1-156 in. in 24 hours. It may be 

 observed also that the February cyclone was accompanied by very 

 strong squalls and extremely heavy rainfall. The depth of the 

 river Nith at the New Bi'idge, as shown by the gauge, was 10 feet» 

 and a good many trees and chimney cans were blown down. On 



