METEOROLOGY. 267 



to bring the mean of the month below its average. There was very little 

 rainfall in the west of Cornwall, considerably less than in the east, and than 

 in other parts of England usually drier. 



August was an unfavourable month for harvest operations. Much rain 

 fell, and on a great many days, particularly in the eastern parts of the 

 county. Both days and nights were colder than their average. 



September was very wet everywhere. At Truro 25 days, and at Altai-nun 

 30 days, were more or less rainy, and there was little or no difference along 

 the western side of England, rain having fallen almost every day at Barn- 

 staple, Clifton, Bath, and Liverpool. At Greenwich only 19 days were rainy. 

 At Altarnun 9-54 inches of rain fell on the 15 days ending September 11th. 

 The temperature was below the average for the month generally : at Bodmin 

 this was the case to the extent of 5 '-6. 



During this season the cholera matter was diffused all over the kingdom ; 

 in every county, except Herefordshire and Eutlandshire, deaths from cholera 

 were registered, and in some places they were numerous ; about 5000 in Lon- 

 don, for instance. In Cornwall they did not exceed half a score, and those 

 were distributed widely. The adjoining county suffered more, but not very 

 severely. In the three preceding visitations of cholera, there was great at- 

 mospheric pressure, high temperature, narrow diurnal range, owing chiefly 

 to warm nights, defect of rain, wind, and electricity. In nearly all these par- 

 ticulars the present season was different ; and it was probably less favourable 

 to the spread of the disease. 



October was generally fine for the season, easterly winds prevailing for 

 the first 18 days. The mean temperature was something above the average, 

 owing to the warmth of the nights, the days being rather cold. 



November was still more mild relatively, the temperature being decidedly 

 above its average both by day and night. The only decided frost was on the 

 night of the 9th: the minimum at Trm-o was 29°, and at Altarnun 28°. 

 There were no very heavy gales. The north of England suffered much 

 from floods. 



The Meteoric Shower of the night of November 13-14, was seen at many 

 places in Cornwall. Mr. Nash, of the Greenwich Observatory, reports that 

 from 11 p.m. to midnight 168 meteors were noted; from midnight to 1 a.m., 

 2032 ; from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m., 4860 ; from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., 995 ; from 3 a.m. 

 to 4 a.m., 541 ; from 4 a.m. to 5 a.m., 165. The maximum was from Ih. 20m. 

 a.m., to Ih. 25m. a.m. The total number must have been at least 10,000. 



December had the same general character, both days and nights being 

 warmer than the average. Colder weather began at the very end of the 

 year. The prevailing westerly winds were often strong, but no disastrous 

 gale occurred. 



The observations recorded in the Tables (No. 1 to 4) were made and 

 registered by Mr. Newcombe, with his accustomed accuracy. 



C. BABHAM. 



H 



