THE WEATHER OF NOVEMBER. 19 



for 1'orty-four years, with two exceptions, viz., 1855, when -57 inches, 

 and 1858, when -61 inches, fell." " The rainfall of November has not 

 been under one inch here (Systou) since 1871, when it was -95 inches." 

 The dry weather proved of incalculable value to farmers in facilitating 

 the operations of the plough, and checking the diseases to which cattle 

 and sheep are subject when the ground is in a wet and saturated con- 

 dition. Generally speaking, the first half of the month was very fair 

 aud pleasant, but after the 17th the weather became more unsettled, 

 with heavy falls of snow and sleet from the 18th to the 27th. The 

 barometer continued remarkably high, and with but little range. North- 

 westerly winds prevailed ; in temperature the first half of the month 

 exceeded, and the latter half was below the average. The ice on lakes, 

 &c. , was sufficiently firm in most places for skating on the 30th, although 

 on the 15th and 16th it was sufficiently firm for a short period to "bear" 

 small boys and light-weights generally. A lunar halo was seen at Oxford 

 on the 28th. At More Kectory " a bright meteor was visible for nearly a 

 minute at 7 15 p.m. on the night of the 10th ;" but of the expected showers 

 during the last few days of the month but few were seen. 



Natural History Notes by Observers. — Coventry. — Although there 

 is a good supply of Hawthorn berries, I have not seen any considerable 

 number of Fieldfares, or other winter birds. On the morning of the 8th 

 a very large flock of Wild Geese, numbering, as I am told, some hundreds, 

 were seen flying over a part of the town. They were flying eastward, and 

 passed over Stoke. I regret that I did not see them, as so large a flock is 

 of rare occurrence. Farley, near Cheadle. — November 2nd, Daisies still 

 in flower. November 9th, Wild Geranium in bloom. November 10th, 

 Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove) in flower still, Buttercups also, tops of 

 Oaks bare, Birch "universally" bare. November 14th, noticed some 

 large Blackberries ripe, apparently in sheltered places, where they were 

 protected from the first severe frost ; fruit lacking flavour and perfection, 

 however ; many shrivelled before attaining maturity. Oak trees generally 

 bare. Ice, half an inch thick. November 18th, Oaks "universally" 

 bare ; species of Buttercup still in bloom. November 26th, Fringilla 

 Calebs (Chaffinch) feeding; this bird has lately been seldom seen. 

 November 29th, Ice about lin. thick. Linacre. — Saw the Foxglove, the 

 Crocus, and other flowers in bloom, on the 13th of the month. An occa- 

 sional Primrose in the woods. Nottingham.- — The Oaks retained their 

 leaves throughout the month, but all the rest have cast theirs some time 

 since, those of the Horse Chestnut particularly being very brightly tinted. 

 Hips and Haws are plentiful, especially the latter. More Bectory. — 

 Heard a few Fieldfares on the 19th, but have seen very few. Burton- 

 on-Trent. — Fall of leaves rapid in and near Burton during first week, 

 though on the higher lands each side of the Trent Valley the fall was 

 fully a fortnight later. Berries generally scarce. Shifnal. — A fine Wheat 

 seed-time ; Grey Wagtails here on 10th. Coundon— -The last field of 

 Wheat in this parish cut and carried between Sunday, 26th October, and 

 Sunday, 2nd November. Bon-Chretien Pears of last year's crop were 

 ripe and consumed by 30th September. The Pears from the same tree 

 on table this day, December 1st, unripe. White Plums, (Golden Drop,) 

 Damsons, and Pears on trees, and unippe, after every leaf had fallen from 

 them on 15th November. 



