170 REPORT—1896. 
highest being 4-2 in August, and the lowest 0-8 in February ; and at Fort 
William the annual mean was 3°6, the highest being 5-3 in July, and the 
lowest 1-7 in February. 
The mean hourly velocity of the wind at the top of the Ben was 16 
miles for the year, the highest monthly mean for the year being 23 miles 
for December, and the lowest 5 miles for June. This minimum of 5 
miles per hour is the lowest mean monthly velocity yet recorded for any 
month since the beginning of 1884. For the three summer months, June, 
July, and August, the mean was at the rate of 11 miles per hour ; but in 
December, January, and February it was 21 miles, or nearly double the 
summer velocity. 
The rainfall for the year at the top of the mountain was 118-00 inches, 
being 31°87 inches less than in 1894; and the lowest that has yet 
occurred, excepting the year 1886, when tiie amount was 107°85 inches. 
The highest monthly amount was 15:41 inches in December, and the 
lowest 3°54 inches in February. The above monthly maximum of 15-41 
inches is a very low maximum for the top of Ben Nevis. The heaviest 
daily fall was 3:48 inches on August 29, which is also a rather small 
maximum daily fall for the year. 
On the top rain fell on 250 days, and at Fort William on 211 days, 
being respectively 10 and 27 days under their averages. The maximum 
number of days on which rain fell at the top was 28 days in July and the 
same number in August ; and at Fort William, 27 days in August; and 
the minimum number of days 9 at the top, and 8 at Fort William in 
February. 
During the year the number of days on which an inch of rain was 
exceeded was 36 at the top and 8 at Fort William. 
The mean rain-band (0-8) was 2°3 at the top and 3°6 at Fort William, 
being nearly the average ; the lowest being in January and February, and 
the highest in July and August. 
Auroras are reported to have been observed on the following dates :— 
February 5, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25 ; April 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 ; 
May 2, 23; September 20, 22, 23, 29, 30 ; October 16,17, 26 ; November 
10, 23, 24, 25 ; December 13, 22. 
St. Elmo’s Fire was seen on April 23, 24, 25; May 1, 23, 24, 25 ; 
June 19, 28; July 2, 23; August 11; October 6; November 13, 14 ; 
December 1. , 
The Zodiacal Light, February 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19. 
Thunder and lightning was reported on May 9, 23, 24, 25; June 9, 
25, 26 ; July 2, 21; August 6,11; December 5,6. Lightning only on 
February 28; May 9, 23, 25; September 9, 10, 23, 24; October 1 ; 
November 10. 
At Fort William the mean atmospheric pressure was for the year 
eeduced to 32° and sea-level 29-852 inches, and at the top reduced only to 
32°, 25284 inches, being 0-005 inch above, and 0:012 inch under, the 
wespective averages. The difference for the two heights was thus 4°568 
inches, the mean difference being 4553 inches. At the top the highest 
pressure was 25-975 inches on May 3, and the lowest 23-889 inches on 
November 11, the annual range being thus 2-086 inches ; and at Fort 
William the highest was 30-673 inches on February 16, and the lowest 
28:601 inches on November 10, the annual range being 2-072 inches. 
The differences from the monthly means of the two Observatories 
greatly exceeded the average differences in January, February, October, 
