THE WEATHER OF AUGUST. 251 



The first week of the month proved a continuation of the dull and 

 damp weather of June and July. However, the heavy rainfall of the 

 7th saw the end of this state of things, and the remainder of the month was 

 extremely dry and fairly hot, effecting a considerable and most beneficial 

 change in the condition of the harvest. On the 10th and 11th the 

 temperature rose generally to above 80 degrees ; the wind then changed 

 to the north-east, and continued from this direction for more than a 

 fortnight, with a very steady barometer and little or no bright sunshine. 

 The end of the month was marked b\ a terrible thunderstorm on the 

 night of the 29-30th. An aurora borealis was seen on the 12th at 

 Oxford (10 30 p.m.) and at Loughborough, and on the same evening 

 (8 15 p.m.) a splendid meteor at Kettering, passing from east to west, 

 and visible for six seconds. 



Thunderstorm of August 29th. — The following graphic description 

 of this severe electrical disturbance is by Mr. J. T. Barber, of Spondon, 

 near Derby : — " On the night of 29-30 occurred a thunderstorm of the 

 first magnitude, being, as respects the lightning and thunder, of an 

 awful character. Lightning was seen at eight p.m. on the 29th, and 

 thunder heard at 10 15, after an interval of 92-2 seconds from the flash, 

 being the longest interval but one that I have ever recorded, and due 

 beyond doubt to the unusual and fearful potency of the discharge. 

 From 1 40 a.m. of the 30th till 2 30 a.m. the storm was of alarming 

 violence, the number of discharges immediately near being very 

 frequent and followed by tremendous thunder, resembling a battery 

 of ordnance. So near was the lightning that a loud hissing was 

 heard two, three, and four seconds before the flash, which intensified 

 the appalling magnificence of the phenomenon. The storm moderated 

 for three short intervals, but was renewed again and again until it at 

 last passed off to the north-west. Some idea may be formed of the 

 violence of the rain by stating that a Crossley's gauge, 20J" high, had 

 been placed above soil in the garden, and the soil was dashed over the 

 rim of the gauge and clogged up the conducting tube till liberated 

 again. The gauge showed -05 in excess of the other two on grass, w ich 

 was no doubt caused by splashing up from the ground. To find a 

 parallel to this storm, I should have to go back to 1852, and then it 

 would not be equalled in the great number of discharges in immediate 

 propinquity. One flash of a yellow colour, about two a.m., was 

 specially remarkable for its blinding brilliancy and extraordinary 

 density and volume, equalling anything of the kind seen in Germany 

 and Italy. The storm finally ceased at 5 15 a.m., after lasting seven 

 hours." 



Natural History Notes by Observers. — Nottingham. — In almost 

 every case this grand month has brought grand crops ; wheat was led on 

 the 21st. Struud. — Epipactis latifolia in blossom on 8th. Shifnal. — 

 Wasps most abundant, and destructive to all fruit, ripe or unripe ; not 

 a coloured butterfly yet, only white. Swifts gone on 9th, detachments 

 of Swallows depart on 16th and 27th. More Rectory. — All the crops are 

 excellent in this neighbourhood ; much disease, however, existing 

 amongst the potatos. There are almost no apples or pears, and the 

 wasps, being unusually abundant, fiercely attack the crops of grapes, 

 which in some vineries are completely destroyed by them. Altarnun. — 

 A most satisfactory month for the farmers ; crops good and well secured. 



