THE CRUST AND INTERIOR OF THE E.UITH. 219 



in thickness, which were evidently laid in shallow seas. Their great 

 thickness was attained by the rapid and long-continued subsidence of the 

 sea bottom, at a time when the cnist was thin, and the contraction of 

 the interior from the radiation of heat was progressing more rapidly than 

 afteru'ards. 



Volcanic phenomena have also changed in respect of the amount of 

 igneous rock erupted, which is much less now than in early geological 

 periods. This change would be the natural result of a thickening of the 

 crust, and the consequently increased distance through which the molten 

 matter has to pass before it reaches the surface. 



The question is being much discussed by geologists at the present 

 time, owing to the evidence which recent researches in the Arctic regions 

 have furnished of a temperate or sub-tropical vegetation ha\-ing 

 flourished there in recent geological periods, which can only be satis- 

 factoiHy explained by a change in the geographical position of the poles. 

 Such a change would i-esult from the displacement of the axis of figure 

 under the jirocess of cooling refen-ed to in this paper, and its readjust- 

 ment to the axis of rotation by the rotatory force. 



METEOEOLOGY OF THE MIDLANDS. 



THE WEATHER OF JUNE, 1878. 



BY W. J. HAERISON, F.G.S. 



The wet period which caused such an excess of rainfall in May 

 continued until the middle of June. About the 18th of the latter month, 

 however, (Waterloo day,) a welcome change set in. The continuous 

 rains ceased, and the temperature rose steadily until on the 26th and 

 27th it exceeded 90° at several stations. From one or two places returns 

 of 95° and upwai'ds have reached us, but these can scarcely be tme shade 

 temperatures. Unless the thermometers are placed in a clear and open 

 space, at a fair distance from walls, &c., and thoroughly screened by 

 double louvres both from the sun's direct and reflected rays, their 

 indications are not to be rehed upon. The solar radiation thennometer 

 (black bulb in vacuo) indicated 142° at Leicester, on the 23rd ; 141° on 

 the 21st and 26th ; and 150° at Spondon, on the 26th. 



The effect of the heat and direct sunshine of the last ten or twelve 

 days of June upon the crops was great and immediate. ^Tieat and 

 barley changed from a sickly yellow to a deep green. The grass crops 

 are very promising, and in the orchards there is everj" prospect of an 

 abundant crop of apples, peaxs, and plums. 



During this hot period thunderstorms were frequent and ^-iolent, and 

 produced hea\'y falls of rain in a short time. At Stroud lin. fell in an 

 hour, on the 17th ; More Rectoiy, l-05in. in 1 J hours, on the 8th ; Larden 

 Hall, -55 in 1 hour, on 8th ; -42 in 30 minutes, on 23rd ; Stokesay, -77 

 in 45 minutes, on 8th ; Burton, -24 in 15 minutes, on 26th ; 

 Weston-under-Lyziard, '77 in 45 minutes on 29th ■,.':Tamworth, 1"61 

 in 3 hours, on 29th; Henley-in-Arden, 1-27 in 20 minutes, on 26th; 

 Stuffynwood Hall, -24 in 30 minutes, on 26th ; Sedgebrook, 1-23 in 3 

 hours, on 26th ; Northampton, 1-25 in 50 minutes, on 26th ; Bishop's 

 Castle, -84 in 45 minutes, on 8th ; Cheltenham, -39 in 20 minutes, on 

 23rd. The importance to engineers and others of a knowledge of these 

 heavy falls of short duration is obvious, as the sewers, watercourses, ifcc, 

 are often totally inadequate to cope with such emergencies. 



Natm-al History notes are few this month, but from Burton Mr, 

 Tripp reports Ume in flower on 6th, and wild rose on 10th. • 



