210 METEROLOGICAL REPORT FOR 1861. 
Min. Therm. Max. Therm. Mean. 
April ............000- SEO eee DO LOl eee 449 
IIE CScaoanccucecaont 42-4 ... 596 ... 51°90 
UNE es cece weeseice BEC aon BOR dose HI) 
Sulyccsssiace towne 49:3... 675 ... 584 
August ......0. 525 ... 69:2 ... 61:0 
September .......... AD Ol sesh O20 meee Dae 
October .... .....00- 4D OM nce 1 3950) eee D0: 
November .......... 2G ges) PAUGOM eo oe 
December...........391'3 ... 445 ... 38:0 
LOI eae) SEI Gon ZEKE) 
In glancing over the Barometer Diagram for 1861, it is un- 
necessary to point out how the heavy gales by which the months 
of February and November were characterised, were each ac- 
companied by a remarkable fall of the mercury. 
But it is much more curious and instructive to observe how 
the gradual downward tend of the barometer from the middle of 
April to the end of June, was followed by a considerable excess 
of rain in July ; and how the gradual upward tend from the 
latter end of July to the early part of September, was followed 
by the fine autumn which ensued. 
There can be no doubt that the action of the barometer, as an 
indicator of weather likely to occur, should be observed on a 
broad and extended scale; and to do this and comprehend its 
general action, the observer must have recourse to a diagram, to 
obtain at a glance a view of its action during considerable periods 
of time. Some months since, under the impression I have 
always held of the usefulness of this mode of representing the 
continuous action of the barometer, I gave the keeper of the 
barometer at Cullercoats, one of Reid’s diagram books for the 
year; but I think for the barometers on the coast, it might be 
well to keep the diagrams on a much larger scale, on a black 
board for instance, properly divided, and on a scale of three to 
one, or so. This might be long enough to contain a month’s 
record, and might occupy the upper or under part of the window 
containing the barometer, and be filled in with chalk once or 
twice a day, by the person in charge of the barometer. 
T feel confident that this mode of obtaining a comprehensive 
