300 
. 
METEOROLOGICAL NOTES FOR 1873. 
Taken as a whole the past year presents no very marked meteorological 
characteristic ; its temperature and rainfall were not far from their average. 
The tabular statement may therefore be referred to for a general view of the 
results of observation, and such particulars as may seem to deserve notice 
will be most conveniently mentioned in a brief review of the several months. 
January was very mild and wet till the 17th, in continuation of the 
weather ,prevailing through almost the whole of December. Afterwards it 
became colder and rather finer, but the temperature of the whole month was 
above the average. There were only six days on which frost or snow occurred. 
The total fall of rain at Truro was very little in excess, but the number of 
days on which more or less fell (25) was a good deal over the mean of 24 
years (21:2). This statement applies nearly to the whole western district ; 
but as will be seen on reference to the table of comparative rainfall, the 
amount in the east of the county, as exemplified by Bodmin and Altarnun, 
largely exceeded the average. The barometer ruled low, and the mean (29°46) 
was below that of any month; the absolute minimum (28°57 in.) was also _ 
the lowest point reached in the year. This was on the 20th, and Mr. Glaisher 
remarks that during the whole of that day the readings at the Greenwich 
Observatory, at 159 feet above sea level, were but little in excess of 28°3 in., 
this continued depression being almost unprecedended. 
February was unusually cold throughout, its mean temperature being 
about 4° below the average, and nearly 5° below that of the preceding month. 
There were however but few frosts, and none very severe in the west. At 
Altarnun there were twenty-four, and snow fell heavily. Mr. Glaisher states 
that the decline of temperature from ‘‘ January to February this year is the 
greatest of any (excepting only that in 1853), that has occurred in 102 
years.” Heavy gales occurred on the 1st-and 25th, causing some losses at 
sea and on shore. The rainfall was much in excess of the average, although 
the number of wet days was below it, being only 15; but the quantity was 
large on several occasions—at Penzance nearly six inches fell on seven days. 
It deserves notice that the relations of the rainfall at some of the eastern 
stations to their averages for February differed from those of the western ones 
just in the opposite direction to what in occurred January. This was most 
marked at Altarnun, where the quantity recorded was more than an inch lesg 
than usual. The direction of the wind may probably account for this in 
great measure. I may here call attention to the generally large excess of 
rainfall at Poltair, about a mile from Penzance, over that registered in the 
town. The more elevated site of the former place would hardly explain the 
whole difference, which is interesting. 
