Meteorological Observations taken in Edinhurgk. 301 



exceedingly low. The moisture on reaching the ground 

 consequently freezes, and covers all objects with a sheet 

 of ice. It almost invariably precedes a thaw. Auroras 

 were seen on the 12th and 23rd. 



March. — Mild weather prevailed during the first eighteen 

 days of the month, but from the 19th to the 25th a very 

 cold spell was experienced, the mean temperature for this 

 period being 32°'6, or 13°*8 below that for the week immedi- 

 ately preceding, and 8°-6 below the average. Eeference to 

 the Edinburgh weather records for the last forty-two years 

 shows that only once before has such a cold week been 

 experienced so far on in the year, viz., in 1879, when the 

 mean temperature of the seven days ending March 28th was 

 32°-0. The soil was frozen to a depth of between 3 and 

 4 inches from the 21st to the 24th inclusive. In spite of 

 brilliant sunshine, the temperature during the day kept very 

 low, the maximum ranging from 35°*9 to 42°*0. An aurora 

 was seen on the 21st, and a heavy fall of snow took place 

 on the 25th. No rain or snow fell during the fifteen days 

 ending with the 22nd. Sunshine and precipitation were 

 normal, but pressure and temperature were both in excess 

 of the average. 



April. — During April, temperature, rainfall, sunshine, and 

 humidity were in close agreement with the normal, but 

 pressure was considerably below the average. A noteworthy 

 feature was the unusual sunlessness of the afternoons. 

 T'hus of 111 hours sunshine registered, 74 hours took 

 place before noon, but only 37 hours, or half the 

 quantity, in the afternoon hours. No warm weather was 

 experienced, but, on the other hand, there was a marked 

 absence of the inclement conditions that so often prevail 

 at this time of year. Kain fell frequently, there never being 

 more than three consecutive days without some. A gale 

 was experienced on the 4th, and snow fell on the 17th. 



May. — Very fine, sunny, although cold weather prevailed 

 from the 3rd to the 8th, the bright sunshine recorded 

 amounting to 70 per cent, of the total possible. From the 

 9th to the 23rd, weather of the most cheerless kind prevailed, 

 the temperature being low, sunshine very deficient, and the 



