NEW NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 135 



objects so easily appreciated ; but in regard to the East-end classes the 

 change can make very little difference, while to the great borough of 

 Chelsea, speaking purely from the popular point of view, the presence 

 of a grand natural history collection, nobly mounted, cannot fail to 

 prove a lasting influence. 



Let us conclude by mentioning the admirable guide, issued for the 

 sum of threepence, which has been drawn up by Mr. Bond, Dr. 

 Woodward, Mr. Fletcher, and Mr. Carruthers. Its historical intro- 

 duction, its detailed plans, its excellent resume of the collections, will 

 be found to explain and illustrate in full what we have glanced at in 

 in this imperfect sketch. 



METEOROLOGY OF THE MIDLANDS, 



THE WEATHER OF APRIL, 1881. 



BY CLEMENT L. WRAGGE, F.R.G.S., F.M.S., ETC. 



As Mr. C. L. Weagge begins observing on Ben Nevis on Juno 1st inst., 

 he earnestly requests that the observers for this magazine will 

 kindly post their synopses to him not later than the 6th of the month, 

 addressed, Fort William, N.B., until further notice. 



The barometer held remarkably steady until the 28th, the baric 

 " curve " showing a singular contrast when examined with the charts 

 for the previous months. Rainfall exceptionally slight. At Henley- 

 in-Arden the fall was l - 589 less than the mean of eleven years, and 

 the smallest fall registered there in April during that period. The 

 low temperature (with strong easterly winds) prevailing till the 11th, 

 and the spell of warmth thence to the 18th, followed by a dip below 

 32° Fah. on the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, and a rise on the 24th to a 

 closing mild period, are ecpually striking in the month's survey. At 

 Orleton the average temperature was more than 3° below the mean 

 of the last twenty years. Ozone in fair abundance. Duration of sun- 

 shine, reported from Hodsock, 110 hours. Extremes of radiation 

 instruments : Solar, 124-7, 28th ; terrestrial, 12"0, 21st, at Lough- 

 borough and Leicester respectively. Mean sea temperature at 

 Scarborough 41-8. An Aurora was observed at Cheltenham on the 

 26th. 



Notes by Obsekvers. — Cheltenham. — The frosts of the 21st 

 and 23rd greatly damaged the gooseberries ; Horse Chestnut 

 and Sycamore in good leaf by end of month. Marlborough. — 

 Vegetation very backward throughout month. Woolstaston. — 

 Cuckoo first heard 17th ; Sand-martin same day ; Swallows 

 not seen till 30th. More Rectory. — Migratory birds unusually late, 

 but Willow Wrens numerous after lGth. Cuckoo not arrived. 

 Bishop's Castle. — Corncrake on 29th ; Swallow, 30th. Cardington. — 

 Cuckoo, 26th; Swallow, 27th. Orleton — Chiff-chaff seen on 12th; 

 Swallow, 16th ; Cuckoo heard 21st ; Cherry and Damson trees in full 

 blossom about 30th. No Thrush seen during last five months, and 

 Blackbird become very scarce. Wrottesley. — Cuckoo heard 18th ; 

 Swallow seen 17th. Oakamoor (Churnet Valley.) — Swallow first seen 

 9th. Said tc have been seen at Alton 4th. Farley. — Cuckoo first 

 heard 18th. Ahtonfnid. — First Swallow and Willow Wren, 16th ; 



