114 Contribution to Meteorology. 



city for the year was 6.18 per hour. The most windy hour was 

 from 2 to 3 a.m. on the 25th of November, when the wind 

 reached a velocity of 49.89 miles. January was the most windy 

 month, and July the calmest. The mean velocity for the year 

 exceeds by 1.10 miles the mean velocity of the Toronto anemo- 

 metric observations. The N. E. by E. wind shows a great amount 

 in miles, owing to its velocity being greater than the winds 

 from any other point of the compass with the exception of the 

 westerly. 



The greatest intensity of the sun's rays for the year was 122° ; 

 and the lowest point of terrestrial radiation was 32°.4 — (below 

 zero). 



The amount of Dew during the year was less than the usual 

 average. 



There were 31 days perfectly cloudless, which gives 26 more 

 cloudy days than the mean amount of cloudy days during the 

 last seven years. There were 113 nights suitable for astronom- 

 ical purposes. 



The winter of 1856 fairly set in on the 14th December. 

 The Song Sparrow {Fringilla melodia), the harbinger of 

 spring, first made its appearance on the 25th March. Swallows 

 (Hiruclo rufa) first seen 19th April. Frogs (Rana) first seen 

 22nd April. Shad (Alosa) first caught 24th May. Fire-flies 

 (Lampyrus corusca) first seen 19th June. Snow-birds (Phlectro- 

 phanes nivalis) first seen 22nd December, 1856. (Very few were 

 seen during the past winter, 1857-8.) 

 Crows wintered here. 



Ozone. — The amount of ozone during the year has shown a 

 little increase on the amount of last year. 



Atmospheric Electricity. — The amount present has been some-, 

 what below the usual average. The electricity of serene weather 

 has indicated very feeble" intensity ; and during the summer 

 thunder-storms the amount has been varied both in intensity and 

 kind. Maximum intensity 360°, in terms of Volta's No. 1 Elec- 

 trometer. 



A suitable instrument for collecting atmospheric electricity of 

 small expense, is still a thing to be desired, to obviate the use 

 and consequent expense of collecting and insulating lamps, which, 

 require constant attention. I have one constructed on the plan 

 of Ptomershausen, but have not yet used it sufficiently to test 

 its collecting powers. 



