54 Traiisactions. 



there a sliglit covering on tlie lower grounds, though on several 

 occasions in January and March and in the end of October and 

 November snow fell on the hills. In other parts of the country, 

 however, and particularly in the northern and eastern districts 

 and over England, snowstorms of considerable severity were 

 experienced, both in March and April and in November and 

 December. 



Hygrometer. — The mean of the dry bulb thermometer for the 

 year was 46"9 degs. ; mean wet, 44'7 degs.: dew point, 42'3 degs. ; 

 relative humidity (saturation = 100), 84. The thermometer read- 

 ings are a fraction lower than in 1889, and the diffei'ence 2 '2 

 degs. instead of 2-4 degs. The relative humidity is 2 per cent, 

 greater — 84 instead of 82. 



There were no very severe thunderstorms in 1890, but thunder 

 was heard, accompanied with lightning in most instances, but not 

 in all, on the following dates : — January 5th and 18th, May 6th 

 and 18th, June 27th and 29th (thunder only), July 2d (thunder 

 only), ith and 15th (thunder witli lightning), August 29th, 

 September 20th, and November 10th (thunder with lightning). 



Wind.- — The prevailing directions of the wind dui-ing the year 

 were as follows : — From an easterly direction, including E., N.E., 

 and S.E., it blew 96 times ; from a westerly direction, including 

 W., S.W., and N.W., it blew 208 times ; from due N., 22 times ; 

 from due S.. 24 times ; and calm or variable, 15 times. 



II. Tlie liemnants of an Ancient LanyiUKje. 



By Mr Patkick Dudgeon. 



O.N., Old Norse; A.S., Anglo-Saxon; O.Sw., Old Swedish; 

 Yk., Yorkshire ; Sc, Scotch ; Fr., French. There is much 

 interest in following up to its source a language now only existing 

 in a very mutilated state, but which was at one time current 

 over a considerable portion of England and part of Scotland. 

 The few notes now presented refer to our " Scottish vernacular," 

 and its close connection to the dialect spoken over a great part of 

 Yoi'kshire. The term dialect must be used with some reservation 

 in speaking of the " Folk speech " of Yorkshire and the south of 

 Scotland, for it is really the remains of the language of the 

 ancient Northumbrian kingdom. Though now almost expiring, 

 and being every day less and less used even by the country 



