XXVIU 



Britons. But this one is a veritable crux ; and obligations were 

 due to Mr. Borlase for having produced it for inquiry. 



Mr. Whitley exhibited and explained his diagrams to illus- 

 trate the connection between the direction of the prevalent N.W. 

 wind of the Spring of 1870, and lines of equal pressure of the 

 barometer. It was shown that this invasion of Cold came from 

 the Norwegian mountains as a N.E. wind, passed southward over 

 the middle of the British Isles, and fell on Cornwall as a N.W. 

 wind ; and that the curves of the course of the v/ind corresponded 

 very closely with the isobaroanetric lines ; that this coincidence 

 also held good in the severe cyclonic storms which had lately 

 SAvept the southern and eastern coasts of England ; and that the 

 lowest reading of the barometer was at the centre of the cyclone. 

 A Map of the Storm of the 22nd August, 1868, was exhibited, 

 showing the course of the wind bounded by sharp curves of equal 

 barometric pressure. 



Dr. Barham made some remarks concerning causes of the 

 deflection of the wind described by Mr Whitley, and on the effects 

 of the different rates of motion of the Earth in different latitudes — - 

 a subject requiring fuller investigation ; and then proceeded to 

 exhibit diagrams illustrating peculiarities of the Cornish climate. 

 The large extent of sea-coast possessed by Cornwall, in compar- 

 ison with other counties, the exceptional warmth of the sea, and 

 the backbone of hills running east and west throughout the length 

 of the county, served to illustrate most of the great genei-al 

 causes of climate, whilst they would account for considerable differ- 

 ences among various districts of the county. Cornwall had been 

 looked at as a whole, and had had the character of being exception- 

 ally mild ; but, in fact, several parts of the county were not less cold 

 than the East of England. Much discrimination between the districts 

 of Cornwall must therefore be exercised in regard to its climate. 

 At Truro, for instance, but a few feet above the sea level, the 

 thermometer fell in December last to 13°, Avhilst at Falmouth, only 

 eight miles off, the lowest temperature was 25°. Such a difference 

 is one of life or death to many plants which flourish in one place 

 and perish in the other. Animal life, feeble from disease or the 

 tAvo extremes of age, may also be nipt by such severe cold. 

 Another peculiarity of this county was the remarkable differences 

 between different places as to amount of rainfall ; as, for instance, 

 between Helston and Truro ; the smaller amount of rain registered 

 at Helston being on some occasions accounted for by the proximity 

 of the high land of Tregoning and Godolphin hills. The influ- 

 ence of St. Agnes Beacon in causing heavy rainfall often escaped 

 by Newquay — otherwise similarly situated — furnished another 



