156 TRjUSfSACTlONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



February. — The weatJier during this month was of a very 

 changeable, stormy nature. After a few days of uncertainty, 

 the elements held high carnival, and storms of wind and 

 rain on the 6th, 7th, and 8th caused a considerable amount 

 of damage throughout tlie district, as all low-lying lands were 

 deeply flooded. From the 9th to the 18th the conditions were 

 somewhat pleasanter, but from the 19th to the end of the month 

 the weather was again stormy and wet. 



The character of the weather is well shown by the erratic 

 and varied range of the atmospheric pressm-e, as shown by the 

 barometer. From the low point, 28" 80, on the 1st, there was 

 a sharp rise to 29 '90 on the 3rd; another sharp change down- 

 ward predicted the gales of 6th to 8th. Between the 9th and 

 18th the pressure varied between 29"50 and 30' 20, without any 

 very notable step. Then aftenvards, with sharp, erratic steps, 

 it fell, and on the 27tli was down to 28"50, rising again sharply 

 to 29"25 inches on the 28th. 



Frost was only registered on two days to the extent of 4° — 

 a vei-y low amount for this month, and in sharp contrast to 

 tliat of February, 1902, when frost totalling 149°, occurring on 

 14 days, was registered. The average maximum temperature 

 was 46°, and the average minimum 39°, whereas in the corre- 

 sponding month of the preceding year the figures were 39° and 

 29° respectively. 



The exceptional nature of the weather is also well illustrated 

 by the rainfall, which amounted to 7' 11 inches, an abnormal 

 quantity for February. Of that amomit l'7l inches was 

 registered on the morning of the 8th and 2'02 inches on the 

 9th — two veiy exceptional readings for the respective preceding 

 twenty-four hours. There were only seven dry days. 



Consequent on the absence of hard frosts, and dry retarding 

 winds, vegetation showed signs of activity early during the 

 month, and, assisted by the comparative mildness of the season. 

 Snowdrops, Crocuses, Winter Aconites, Narcissi, and similar 

 bulbous plants soon made headway, and were in bloom or bud 

 by the middle of the month, while Daphne Mezereum, L., 

 Rhododendron prcecox, and R. nohleanum began to open their 

 flowers about the 10th, and were in full bloom by the third 

 week, and deciduous plants, such as Lilacs and Hawthorns, 

 were bursting; their buds. 



