Meteorological Observations taken in Edinh^trgli. 305 



December. — The mean temperature of December was in 

 marked contrast to that of November, the records showing 

 a fall of 11°'5 between the two months, being the largest 

 observed during the last 135 years. The nearest approach 

 to this large fall was in 1846, when December was 10°'3 

 colder than the preceding month. There was a sharp spell 

 of frost from the 9th to the 15th, and again from the 26th 

 to the 28th. Snow fell on the 10th, 11th, 22nd, and 28th, 

 the fall on the 11th being heavy. The air throughout the 

 month was singularly calm, no gales being reported. Even 

 on the 29th, when the barometer fell to the low level of 

 28'456 inches, the wind did not exceed a fresh breeze. 

 Dull weather predominated, no less than twenty-one days 

 being sunless. Up to the 23rd only 5 hours sunshine was 

 recorded, no less than eighteen days in this period being 

 sunless. On many of these days there was great gloom, 

 owino- to the denseness and low elevation of the clouds. 



o 

 ISTOTEWORTHY PHENOMENA IN THE METEOROLOGY OF 1899. 



Highest barometric reading 30*772 inches, on January 26th. 

 Lowest barometric reading 28*456 inches, on December 30th. 

 Highest temperature in shade 83°-l, on August 24th. 

 Lowest temperature in shade 18°'3, on December 15th. 

 Greatest range of temperature 31°-9, on June 12th. 

 Least range of temperature 2°*5, on December 31st. 

 Highest temperature in sun's rays (black bulb thermometer 



in vacuo) 132°-9, on August 11th. 

 Greatest excess of sun maximum over shade maximum 68''-8, 



on June 24th. 

 Lowest temperature on grass 10°-0, on December 15th and 



16th. 

 Greatest difference between minimum on grass and in shade 



10°-1, on December 12th and 14th. 

 Sunniest day May 27th, with 13 hours 28 minutes bright 



sunshine, being 80 per cent, of the total possible. 

 Greatest daily rainfall 1*38 inch, on September 30th. 



