ON 5IETE0B0L0GICAL OBSERVATIONS ON BEN NEYIS. 



These twelve months were thus characterised by an unusually low- 

 mean temperature, the annual mean at the sea-level station, 45^o°, being 

 1^9° below its normal mean temperature. 



The maximum temperature at the observatory for the period was 60-0° 

 at 3 P.M. of July 31, which nearly approaches the onaxhrAim of previous 

 years, viz. 60-1° at 2 p.m. on August 9, 1884. The lowest temperature 

 -was 8-4'' at noon, December 29, 1885, which is the lowest temperature yet 

 recorded on Ben Nevis. The lowest temperatures for the three winters 

 have been respectively 99°, 11'1°, and 84°. 



But the most remarkable features in the climate of Ben Nevis during 

 the year were the frequent occurrence of excessive droughts, compara- 

 tively large amount of sunshine, and occasional unusually heavy falls of 

 rain and snow. The following observations were made on July 30, 



1885 :— 



Drv Wet Diff. 



Such low humidities, sharply marked off from high humidities, are 

 among the most valuable observations of the observatory, particularly 

 when viewed in connection with the irregular geographical distribution of 

 frosts and other low night temperatures which occur over the country on 

 subsequent evenings. 



But the most remarkable drought yet recorded at the observatory 

 occurred in March last, commencing at 1 A.M. of the 11th, and ending at 

 midnight of the 12th, thus extending over a period of forty-eight hours. 

 The mean humidity of the first twenty-four hours was only 19, and of the 

 second twenty-four hours 15, the lowest being 6 at 8 P.M. of the 12th. 

 From noon of the 12th to 11 p.m. the mean was only 11. The three 

 consecutive hours of greatest dryness were the following : — 



During these two days the sky was absolutely cloudless, and the wind 

 south-easterly, blowing at first with force 5, then falling gradually to 3 



