215 



Inspecting, first, the table of mean temperatures, it will be seen 

 that the mean of every one of the above months is l^elow the 

 average mean, the difference between them, however, being much 

 greater in some months than in others. The monthly mean, 

 beginning with November 1878, declined gradually till January, 

 1879, when it was at its lowest, 33°, 9, and 7°. 4 below the average 

 of H years. There was a considerable rise in February, when 

 the difference between it and the average was reduced to 1°.8 ; 

 and this difference was further reduced in March, when it also 

 was at its lowest and only 0°.6. There is not much difference, 

 on an average of 14 years, between the mean temperature of 

 Februaiy and that of March ; but passing to the next month 

 April, it will be seen that while the average mean advances in this 

 month nearly 6 degrees, the mean of April 1879 advanced 

 scarcely more than 2^ degrees beyond that of March ; while the 

 mean temperature of May, though rather more than 4| degrees in 

 advance of April, was still below the average mean for May by at 

 least 3 degrees. This acounts in part for the extreme backward- 

 ness of the two months of April and May, 1879, both usually 

 considered as spring months. 



Taking the whole seven months together, November to 

 May inclusive, the mean temperature of the same in 1878-9 

 appears in the table as 40"^. 7. The mean temperature of 

 the same seven months together, on an average of 14 years, is 

 seen to be 44°. 7, or four degrees more. This is a considerable 

 difference in the mean temperature of a period exceeding half 

 a year. 



Taking together what are ordinarily considered as the three 

 teinter months, December, January, and February, the mean 

 temperature is found to be 5° below the average winter mean. 

 Including November, the mean of the fonr months is found to be 

 still 4®. 6 below the average. 



. Taking together the three spring months, as usually considered, 

 March, April, and May, the mean temperature is 2^.5 below ^'he 

 c 2 



