206 Transactions. 



It is worthy of note that last year also February and September 

 were the driest months. There was a period of drought extending 

 from 15th of June to the 6th of July, in which no rain fell, and 

 which was characterised throughout by warm and sunny days and 

 mild nights. The mean of the day temperature during this period 

 was 73-9 deg., and of the night temperature fully 49 deg. The 

 total number of days on which rain or snow fell during the year 

 was 202, as compared with 195 in 1888, and 181 in 1887. The 

 total rainfall for the year was 35*17 in., as compared with 35'91 in 

 1888, 30-99 in 1887, and 41 -13 in 1886. This gives a mean for 

 the four years in which observations have been taken at Dumfries 

 of 35-80 in. 



Hygrometer.— ^\i% mean reading of the dry bullj thermometer 

 for the year was 47-5 deg., and of the wet bulb 45-1 deg. The differ- 

 ence (2-4 deg.) is exactly the same as last year, but the tempera- 

 tures of this year are higher by 1 -5 deg., a difference very nearly 

 corresponding with the increase in the mean temperature of the 

 year — from 46-5 deg. to 48-1 deg. Temperature of the dew point, 

 42-4 deg. Relative humidity (saturation being equal to 100) 82. 



Tlmnderstorins. — There were eight days on which thunder 

 and lightning were observed, viz., the 5th and 7th of May, the 2d 

 and 6th of June, the 15th, 16th, and 23d of July, and the 8th of 

 October. Of these the storms of 7th May, 2d and 6th June, 16th 

 July, and 8th October Avere most severe. The others were either 

 somewhat distant or of short continuance, but they were almost 

 invariably accompanied by hail showers. Once, on 16th May, at 

 9 A.M., I observed a very large solar halo ; and on several occa- 

 sions lunar halos were observed, which, though not invariably, 

 were for the most part precursors of the approach of a cyclone, 

 especially if accompanied by a backing wind and a falling baro- 

 meter. 



Wind. — It may be interesting to note the prevailing direc- 

 tions of the wind during the year. From an easterly direction, 

 including E., N.E., and S.E., it blew 228 times (observations being 

 taken twice every day, morning and evening) ; and from a westerly 

 direction, including W., N.W., and S.W., 408 times ; from due N., 

 23 times ; due S., 42 times ; the remainder, numbering 29, being 

 either calm or variable. The most prevalent wind is S.W., which 

 during the past year blew on 108 days out of the 365. It is to 

 the prevalence of this wind in November, Decembcj-, and January 

 that the mildness of our winters is chiefly due. 



