METEOROLOGY. 301 



in excess, owing probably to some very heavy local showers, — the quantity 

 was 1-28 inch on the 22nd. The highest temperatures were at Penzance 

 7B°; Helston, 84o; Falmouth, 76-3° ; Truro, 81" ; Bodmin, 75° ; Liskeard, 

 83° ; Altarnun, 84°. At Greenwich it did not rise above 81°. Mr. Glaisher 

 remarks that the period of fine and warm weather, which commenced on 

 the 4th of July, and continued until August 18th, 46 days, " exercised a 

 great influence on the growing crops, which up to this time were in doubtful 

 condition." The excess of temperature was more than 3i° daily. 



September was also marked by the characteristic dryness of the summer; 

 the quantity of rain having been only one-half, and the number of days on 

 which it fell much less than the average at all the stations. The first ten 

 days were unsettled and showery, but the rest of the month was almost un- 

 interruptedly fine. The temperature was, however, rather below the average. 

 There were strong breezes about the equinox, but no gale. On the 24th a 

 fine display of aurora borealis was witnessed from Guernsey to North Shields. 

 The highest temperature at Falmouth was 67", at Truro, 74°, the lowest 

 50° and 36°, respectively. Mr. Glaisher states that, on the whole quarter of 

 92 days, there was an excess of nearly 1° daily on the average. The weather 

 was as favourable as could be desired for all farming operations, but the 

 grass crop was rendered very deficient by the drought. 



October was fine for the first few days, afterwards very unsettled, and 

 the rainfall was greatly in excess of the average, especially at the eastern 

 stations. At Truro the quantity was 5-79 inches, at Bodmin 7"98, at 

 Altarnun 10-55. Whilst on the night of the 10th, the coldest of the month, 

 the lowest temperature at Falmouth was 42-5°, it was 31° at Truro, and 

 22° at Altarnun, where the heliotrope, fuchsia, &c., were much cut by the 

 severe frost. There were thunderstorms on the 8th, 9th, and 19th ; the last 

 was heavy, and in the neighbourhood of Penzance it did some damage. Auroras 

 Boreales were seen on several nights ; the display on the 24th was probably 

 the most magnificent which has oi^urred for many years ; it was seen at 

 Malta, Italy, Syria, &c. The deep blood-red colouring was noticed 

 extensively. 



November commenced very fine and bright, with easterly winds and high 

 barometer, and so continued for a week. The weather then became unsettled. 

 The rainfall, and the number of rainy days, were about the average. On the 

 10th a fine morning was followed by a thunderstorm, with rain, hail, sleet, and 

 snow, which fell heavily, even at Falmouth. On the 22nd there was another 

 thunderstorm, and it blew heavily from W. to S. W. on that and the following 

 day, when the " Jane and Mary " was wrecked at Chyandour ; and a traveller 

 met his death on Laueast Down, in consequence of his horse being frightened 

 by the lightning. Mr. Glaisher divides the month into two periods, one of 

 cold, extending from the 1st to the 19th, during which the average daily 

 deficiency of temperature amounted to 4|", and another of the following ten 

 warm days, when the daily average excess of temperature was 4*-° nearly. 



December was characterised by two cold periods, separated by ten mild 

 days in its midst. At Truro there was frost on 16 days, and snow on 11. 

 At Altarnun there were 26 frosts. The last ten days of the year were intensely 



