RAINFALL IN DORSET. 



187 



almost be felt, one expected every moment a crash of thunder, 

 which, though waited for, never came ; and then the summer 

 evening brightness returned, but all Nature seemed to be 

 expecting a storm. Then again, on the 15th November, a 

 tremendous darkness fell over us ; and some of us were walk- 

 ing on the line of railway which passes through the parish, 

 and which we have the right of using, but we did not continue 

 to do so, as it was too dark to see the trains, except at a very 

 short distance. This seems to have been remarked in other 

 places in our neighbourhood, where one of our Meteorological 

 Observers particularly drew my notice to it, and said that 

 even his fowls, owing to the extraordinary darkness, went to 

 roost. I have never myself noticed such a thing as that ; 

 except very many years ago, it was in March, 1858 a long 

 time to look back upon during a very remarkable total 

 eclipse, I recollect all birds and animals " going to roost." 



SHROTON HOUSE, BLANDFORD. September was the driest 

 month for 15 years. December was the wettest December 

 for 15 years. 



ST. GILES' HOUSE. 



Maximum temp, in sun, 136, on 23rd June. 

 Minimum on grass, 10, on 27th January. 

 Highest barometer reading, 30'44, Sept. 4th. 

 Lowest barometer reading, 28'54, Jan. 24th. 



