228 WEATHER AND OTHER NOTES. 
perature was 45.46 deg., which was the highest for Novem- 
ber during the last seven years, and five degrees higher than 
October, which is most unusual. At this part of the year 
the temperature generally tends quickly downwards, and on 
an average October is five degrees warmer than November. 
Heard a Thrush trying his pipes on several mornings. 
DECEMBER. 
Mild, open weather continued throughout the month, 
with the exception of two cold wintry snaps—from the 11th 
till the 13th, and from the 15th until the 18th. There was a 
powdering of snow on three days, and only three days on 
which the barometer was under 30 inches. The daily mean 
temperature was slightly under normal. 
Large sun-spots were much in evidence during the year. 
There are problems in connection with the forces which 
influence the weather to a great extent, yet remain to be 
solved. Changes come so suddenly without any apparent 
reason, and most weather predictions beyond a day or two 
are seldom correct. A knowledge of the forces which in- 
fluence the weather is essential to enable us to understand 
the effects which we daily witness. Such forces, I believe, 
are to a great extent external to our planet, and in some way 
intimately connected with variation in solar activity. 
The notes in this paper, except where otherwise stated, 
refer to my immediate locality. 
