186 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
REPORTS BY THE HONORARY 
SCIENTISTS. 
1. Report on the Meteorology of Scotland for the Year ending 
September 1897. By R. C. Mossman, F.R.S.E., Honorary 
Consulting Meteorologist. 
The following generalised abstract of the weather experienced 
over Scotland during the year ending with September last, has 
been largely deduced from the data given in Dr Buchan’s 
quarterly reports to the Registrar-General. The monthly abstracts 
issued by the London Meteorological Office have also been 
utilised. 
October 1896.— Unusually cold-weather prevailed during nearly 
the whole month, the depression of temperature being greatest 
over the southern parts of the country, and least in the Shetland 
Islands, where the ameliorating influence of the ocean was well 
marked, Northerly and easterly winds predominated ; showers 
of snow being of frequent occurrence. A good deal of rain fell, 
and was distributed over the country in a very irregular manner. 
Over the western districts the amount was on the whole decidedly 
below the normal, but on the east coast, from Aberdeen to Berwick, 
more than double the average was precipitated. Bright sunshine 
was slightly below the average, the deficit being most marked over 
the south-eastern counties. On the other hand, there was a slight 
excess in Lanarkshire, while the amount recorded at western 
stations approximated closely to the average. 
November 1896,—The weather during November was unusually 
dull and dry, with a mean temperature slightly in excess of the 
normal. The mildest weather was experienced in the west and 
north, but cold conditions prevailed in the south, where, at 
inland places, the depression amounted to 2°. The rainfall 
was only half the average, taking the country as a whole, but at 
many places less than a fourth of the average was registered. 
