THE WEATHER OF JANUARY. 67 



15th, and again between the 19th and 24th. Magnetic storm in r.M. of 

 the 31st, and magnificent aurora about 6 40, which was well observed 

 in the Midland districts. Tiie amount of precipitation was generally 

 but small, and in the moorlands of N.E. Staffordshire the snowfall 

 was comparatively slight. 



Notes by Observers. — Woolstaston. — Frost was of unprecedented 

 severity here. Snowfall remarkably slight when contrasted with 

 other places. More Rectory. — Apparently no record of such extreme 

 cold in this neighbourhood. In lower situations thermometer fell 

 below zero. Bishop's Castle. — Rainfall much less than the average. 

 West Malvern. — Continuous frost from 5th to 26th, both inclusive. Bur- 

 ton. — Maximum on 25th, only 16-0. Twenty-five frosts on grass. Weston- 

 under-Lyziard. — No great snowfall, but serious drifts. Wrotteslcy. — 

 Minimum temperature lowest on record extending over forty years. 

 'lean. — The snowstorm of the 18th did not reach this district. Oaka- 

 moor. — Ice-thickness in Churnet Valley on still water averaged 10 

 inches. Farley. — Lowest temperature of ground at depth of 1 foot, 

 28-5, 25th ; at 2 feet, 82-4. 22nd ; min. on grass, 5-2, 16th ; max. in sun, 

 93-4, 23rd. No snow registered on 18th, but drifts 7 feet deep by walls. 

 Beacon Stoop. — Climate of upper moorlands during the frost dry, genial, 

 and salubrious, as contrasted with that of adjacent lowlands. Alston- 

 field. — Snowfall (11th to 19th) much smaller than in most other places. 

 Henley-in-Arden. — Rainfall less than average of 10 years. Leamington. 

 — Snowdrifts reported 12 feet deep. Stoney Middleton. — Month (espe- 

 cially latter end) very fine and clear. Hodsock. — 41 hours of bright 

 sunshine; max. in sun, 917. 21st; min. on grass -4-0, 16th. Tuxford. 

 — Lowest " maximum," 18 - 0. Loughborough. — Max. in sun, 88-1, 31st ; 

 min. on grass, - 9, 16th. Kibworth. — 1st, Cowslip, Primrose, and Wall- 

 flower in bloom. Coston. — Snowstorm of 18th very severe. Leicester 

 (Museum.) — Max. in sun, 85-5, 31st; min. on grass, 1*9, 22nd. Kettering. 

 — 17th, found Thrush starved to death. Castle Ashby. — Small Bat seen 

 flying on evening of 3rd. Uppingham. — 16th, the coldest day. having a 

 mean temperature of 14-8. Oxford. — 50 hours of sunshine. Carlisle. — 

 The coldest month registered in 18 years. Blackpool. — Between 10th 

 and 17th average daily temperature 18-6 below the mean. Scarborough. 

 — Mean sea temperature, 40 - 8 ; coldest month on record (from 1866.) 

 Llandudno. — Mean temperature. 7 - l below the average ; coldest month 

 since commencement of record (1861.) Altamuii. — Coldest month on 

 record (commenced 1864 ;) one Snowdrop on bank, near brook, under 

 trees, on 10th; a dozen others on 31st, after disappearance of the frost. 

 Sidmouth. — The coldest month, with one exception, since 1837. Ventnor. 

 — Weather has been very remarkable for its severity ; heavy falls of 

 snow, much drifted. 



P.S. — Owing to the gales of the 18th and 19th, the amounts for 

 " Rainfall" in those districts visited by the accompanying snowstorms 

 may be incorrect. The values from Stroud, Stoke Bliss, Leamington, 

 and Kibworth must especially be regarded with some caution. 



Corrcspontirncf. 



APPKOXIMATE PHENOLOGICAL DATES. 



As a guide to observers the Meteorological Society has drawn up 

 the following table, giving approximately the times of appearance of 

 plants, insects, and birds. In the case of plants, those persons who 



