52 Transactions. 



Ttmperaliiri;. — As regards the temperature, the year has been 

 somewhat peculiar. For example, the highest single I'eading of 

 the thermometer was not in June, July, or August, as is usually 

 the case, but on the 23d May, when it was 75-2 degs., the next 

 highest being 74-5 degs. on the 7th August, and 74 degs., on the 

 7th September. The proper summer months of June and July 

 were unusually deficient in sunshine and warmth, with a remark- 

 able prevalence of rainy days, numbering 22 in each, and the 

 inevitable result of low temperature for the season of the year. 

 The mean maximum or day temperature of Jane was 7 degs. 

 below average, and that of July 4 degs. In the former month 

 the thermometer never reached 70 degs., and in the latter only 

 thrice, the highest reading being 71 "5 ; whereas in the latter 

 part of May there were also three very warm days, with a maxi- 

 mum range from 70'5 to 75-2 degs. ; in August, seven, ranging 

 from 70 to 74"5 degs. ; and in September, seven, ranging from 

 70'1 to 74 degs. The highest mean temperature occurred in the 

 month of September — viz., 58-3 degs., as compared with 55-6 

 degs. in June, 56-5 degs. in August, and 57 degs. in July. As 

 regards the winter months, January was exceptionally mild and 

 o])en, with a marked prevalence of southerly and south-westerly 

 winds, and a mean temperature of 41 '9 degs., being about 4 degs. 

 above average. The mean temperature of February was 37 '9 

 degs., nearly 2 degs. below average, but almost the same as in 

 1889. The coldest month of the year was December, with a 

 mean temperature of only 33 '5 degs. In this month there were 

 seven days on which the maximum readings were under the 

 freezing point, and as low as 27"2 degs. on the 13th; while 

 there were nineteen nights of frost with an aggregate of 95 degs. 

 The lowest temperature of the year was recorded on the Jiight of 

 the 1.3th or morning of the 14tli December, when the sheltered 

 thermometer registered 19 degs., and an exposed thermometer on 

 the grass registered 11 '5 degs. In the end of October there was 

 a spell of severe cold, the sheltered thermometer falling as low as 

 23-7 degs. on the 28th ; and the same thing occurred in the end 

 of November, from the 26th to the 29th, the readings ranging 

 from 28"5 degs. to 23'3 degs., but otherwise the temperature of 

 these months was above average. With our recollections of the 

 wet and inclement weather of the summer months, and the per- 

 sistent frost of December, it miuht havt; been supposed that the 



