METEOROLOGY — CORRESPONDENCE . 261 



Rainfall appeal's to have beeu also below the average. Tlie highest 

 pressure occurred on the 7th, when the barometer reduced to 32 deg. F., 

 and sea-level read 30-480 in Central England ; and the lowest took place 

 on the 27th, 29-247 being the value. 



The mean amount of cloud was about 6-5 (scale to 10), and the 

 mean relative humidity about 87% in the Midlands. Northerly winds 

 prevailed. The mean temperature of the soil at Hodsock at a depth 

 of one foot was 55-8,, and at Strelley o3-5. At the fonner station 108-9 

 hours of bright sunshine were recorded, at the latter 107-0 hours, or 

 28%. The solar radiation thermometer (black bulb in vacuo) reached 

 128-5 at Loughborough on the 7th, and the terrestrial minimum on 

 grass 20-G at Oxford on the 16th. The mean amount of ozone at the 

 Radcliffe Observatory was 0-7 (scale to 10). Thunderstorm on the 

 3rd. Mean sea temperature at Scarborough 55-3, being 1-2 degrees 

 above 5 years' average. 



Corrrspoulicntr, etc. 



Amblystegicm kipakium. — This moss has been fruiting abundantly 

 during the summer just past in the ponds at Limbury, South Beds, 

 where also Fonlhidlis (nitipi/reticd has been found in fruit, to which 

 reference was made in the September number of the " Midland 

 Naturalist." Since the notice just referred to was penned, both these 

 mosses have been found in company fruiting copiously in a pond at 

 Harlington, Beds, about five miles from the other station. At Limbury 

 the plants that grew on stumps above the water produced numerous 

 capsules on sette about an inch long ; but besides these there were 

 curious, elongate, submerged forms also in fruit. Some of these 

 measured six to seven inches in length, bearing capsules from one to 

 two inches from the base, with setas fully two inches long. These 

 elongate forms produced a fair number of capsules, but not in such 

 profusion as the aerial short stems, nor were they so well developed as 

 those of the latter. It would appear from this and many other cases 

 which might be cited that the vegetative and reproductive organs are 

 usually developed in inverse ratio to each other. It should be stated 

 that duplicates have beeu sent to Mr. Boswell for criticism and 

 verification. — J. Saunders. 



OspREY IN Leicestershire. — On Friday, October 13th, the keeper at 

 Saddington Reservoir noticed a large hawk circling and soaring over 

 the pool, every now and then making a rapid stoop towards the water. 

 He was near enough to note the colour and markings of the bird, and 

 I had no difficulty, from his description, in identifying it as an Osprey. 

 On October 18th a bird, supposed to be an Osprey, was observed 

 circling at a great elevation over Gumley Wood and Pool, which ai-e 

 only half-a-mile distant from Saddington ; and on Sunday, October 

 22nd, Rev. A. Matthews, of Gumley, saw an Osprey flying over his 

 garden at 2 p.m.. only 30 yds. to 40 yds. distant, and readily recognised 

 the bird. From its large size lie believed it to be a female. — Thom.\s 

 M.\c.\ULAY, M.R.C.S.L., etc. 



