THK MINERALS OF THK MIDLANDS. 105 



School Magazine," closes with the following references to Derbyshire 



localities : — 



"The following are a few good localities for minerals: — Cromford 

 — various mines, especially the deserted workings near the Black 

 Rocks. Matlock — at the old shafts and refuse heaps on Masson Hill, 

 and at the back of the High Tor. The guide of the High Tor Grotto 

 has always a large stock of good Derbyshire minerals on sale. The 

 rocks near the mouth of the grotto afford specimens of amygdaloidal 

 Toadstone. Many of the commoner minerals may be obtained at 

 Crich Hill, near Whatstand-well. Along the road to Castleton from 

 Miller's Dale, there is a close succession of old mines, all of which 

 will repay a careful search." 



METEOROLOGY OF THE MIDLANDS 

 THE WEATHER OF MAY, 1881. 



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



Marked atmospheric vagaries occurred ; the month from the North 

 Midlands being reported by our observers as ''warm," and from the 

 southern counties as " cold, except towai-ds the very end." Tempera- 

 ture generally had a wide range ; nocturnal radiation, after warm 

 days, causing ground-frosts, very damaging (together with the defi- 

 ciency of rainfall) to garden produce and vegetation. At Henley-in- 

 Arden the rainfall was 1-131 less than i i of 11 years ; but on 



Axe Edge the total monthly amount was 4-200. An area of unusually 

 high pi-essure — the highest recorded at Tuxford during the last 5 years 

 — held over the country between the 7th and 12th, accompanied in 

 " front and rear " by an increase of temperature ; but oddly enough by 

 an intermediate thermic fall, the reverse of the usual summer condi- 

 tions of a high barometer. A trough rapidly approached on the 14th, 

 and a deep cyclonic ring passed on the 16th, with a corresponding fall 

 of temperature. After a narrow crest a secondary disturbance crossed 

 on the 18th and 10th. thunder occurring in its rear at Buxton and other 

 stations. The barometer again ran high on the 22nd and 31st ; a 

 depression, accompanied by thunderstorms, and bringing the " greatest 

 fall " at many stations, intervening. An extraordinary anticyclonic 

 heat wave closed the month, a maximum of 88 - on the 31st being 

 reported from Leicestershire. Extreme values from radiation instru- 

 ments (solar) 140-2 on the 28th, (terrestrial) 9-5 on 11th, both reported 

 by Mr. Browne from Leicester. Ozone appears to have been very 

 plentiful, full amount (viz., 10) being registered by my observer at 

 Oakamoor in the Churnet Valley on 14th. 17tb. 18th, and 19th. At 

 Buxton the mean daily amount was 6-4, and at Carmarthen the mean 

 for the month was 60. At Hodsock 237 hours of bright sunshine 

 were recorded. Solar halo at Oxford on 11th. Large group of sun- 

 spots observed at end of month. Mean sea temperature at Scarborough, 

 46-0. Violent thunderstorm, the most severe one during a period of 

 22 years, at Llandudno on 26th. 



Notes by Observers. — Burton. — Corncrake heard. 5th ; horse chest- 

 nut in full leaf, oth. Hawthorn (a large display) in flower generally 

 about 26th. Apple and other fruit blossom iate, but abundant. A I 

 field. — First swift, 3rd ; a few swallows, 8th ; house martins, 13th ; 

 swifts in numbers, 19th ; late arrival of house martin peculiar. Not- 

 tingham. — Oak out distinctly before ash ; tremendous show of " May " 



