113 
the average of seventeen years. This mean winter temperature 
has been exceeded in two previous winters, viz., the winter of 
1876-7, when it was 46°°1 ; and the winter of 1868-9, when it 
rose to 46°°3. This last was the highest. mean winter tempera- 
ture during the series of seventeen years; and it is worthy of 
note that both these very mild winters occurred after very hot 
‘summers; which accords with what I noticed formerly in 
Cambridgeshire, where I kept a register for a long term of years, 
viz., that “most of the mild winters had been preceded either 
by a fine though not always hot summer, or a fine autumn ;” as 
also that three of the hottest summers that had occurred within 
my experience—those of 1834, 1835, and 1846—were all pre- 
ceded by very mild winters, especially the summers of 1834 and 
1846. But there are exceptions to this rule; and no trustworthy 
forecast as to the character of next summer (1883) can be made 
from the character of the late winter, as, though mild, its 
temperature was not so high as that of some previous winters, 
and so much depends upon rainfall and other conditions besides 
temperature. 
Summary of Proceedings for the Year 1882-83. 
Mr. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN, 
The time has again come round when you expect a Summary 
of the work done during the year. If the Excursions and Walks 
are a fair test, then will the past year bear comparison with any 
preceding one ; but if, on the other hand, papers offered and 
the audience present at their reading be taken as a test, then 
I fear the record will show a falling-off in this respect as com- 
pared with that of former years. This result does not follow so 
much from the inability or unwillingness of individuals to prepare 
papers for the members as from the smallness of the attendance 
