Of the Siyring Months of the Year 1855. 27 



trifling exceptions of the partial thaws akeady mentioned, the frost was 

 persistent. About Glasgow, as well as at most of the stations, the depth 

 of snow was inconsiderable — in high and in sheltered situations, about 

 three to four inches ; but completely wanting in those having southern 

 exposure. Severe drifts occurred in Orkney, Moray, and Aberdeen 

 shires ; and at Orton and in Moray the snow for some weeks was nine 

 inches deep. The mean temperature of the month at Chiswick was 

 28°"01 ; mean of twenty-nine years previous, 39°'07 ; mean of February, 



1854, 37°'67. Regarding this month the Eev. C. Clouston of Sand- 

 wick has the following remarks : — 



" Mean temperature of this montb, ...... 31°'64 



Mean temperature of February for twenty-eight years previous, 38 -24 



Mean temperature of February, 1864, 39-22 



Average quantity of rain in February for fourteen years previous, 3 -39 

 Quantity this month, .1-32 



The mean temperature of this month is lower than that of any month 

 for the last twenty-eight years, except February, 1838, when it was 

 31°'31, and when there was snow during all the month, and for three 

 weeks previously. This month it lay from the 11th till the last day ; 

 and the drift on the 2od and 24th formed high wreaths in many places, 

 rendering the roads impassable to vehicles." We believe, however, that 

 the severe weather in spring, 1838, here alluded to, was by no means 

 SQ general as that of 1855. In 1838, however, Loch Lomond was com- 

 pletely frozen over, as on the 16th Februaiy, 1855. On the 17th it 

 was visited by large parties from Glasgow, to enjoy and to witness 

 the amusements of skating and curling upon this " Queen of Scottish 

 Lakes." On the authority of Mr. Miller of Eastwood, we can state 

 that on one occasion, prior to 1838, and also within this century, Loch 

 Lomond was completely frozen and rendered passable. This was pro- 

 bably in the winter of 1813-14. 



The mean temperature of March at Chiswick was 37°-61 ; mean of 

 March for the last twenty-nine years, 42°-24 ; mean of March, 1854, 

 42°-54. Average amount of rain in March, 1-33 inch. At Sandwick, 

 the mean of this month was 36°'61 ; mean for twenty-eight years, 

 40°-53 ; mean temperature of March, 1854, 45°-14 — the highest during 

 the whole period of twenty-eight years. The mean temperatures of 

 March, 1837 and 1839, were 3G''-54 and 36°-33 respectively, almost the 

 same as that of March, 1855. The temperatures of April and May, 



1855, were also from 3° to 4° below the means for twenty-eight years 

 previous. Average quantity of rain for fourteen years, 2'52 inches. — 

 Generally, as regards all the elements, the Oban, Stornoway, and 

 Orkney stations, manifest the effects of oceanic influences, and the 



