78 ALLISON— ON METEOKOLOGY. 



Ajri'il was a very wet month — much rain falling on many 

 days, interspersed with snow storms, which latter reached a 

 depth of 9 1-2 inches, being much more than usual. The 

 temperature did not exceed (51°. 2, which is alow maximum, and 

 the minimum 17", w^s extremely low, especially when we 

 remark that it occui'red as late as the 14th. The mean temper- 

 ature, 37°. (33, was nearlj- 3° below 18(3(5, and 6 lower than 

 18(53-7 inclusive. The customary N. wind prevailed, and the 

 force continued very great, rising to a gale on the 19th, driving 

 into drifts some four inches of snow which had fallen during the 

 previous afternoon and night. The weather for some days 

 before this had been very stormy ; a southerly rain-storm setting 

 in on the 16th and continuing with scarcely any intermission 

 till the change to snow just mentioned, the wind backing 

 through E. to I\ . Pansies blossomed in Windsor on the 5th ; 

 and the crocus in Cornwallis on the 11th, and "Windsor on the 

 15th, and smelt were caught in the xivon on the same day. 

 On the Saturday before Easter, the 20th, I picked full blown 

 mayfiowers fn the Tower woods, and on the same day they were 

 picked near Windsor, some 10 or 12 days later than usual. 

 Frogs were heard at Spa Spring, Windsor, on 21st, and 23rd 

 near Halifax. Dent de Leon in full leaf 26th. Thunder and 

 lightning were noted about midnight between the two warmest 

 days of the month, the 22ud and 23rd. 



May was a veiy cloudy month, and well sustained its reputa- 

 tion for moisture ; 20 of its days being marked as wet. No 

 snow fell, however; the last of the season coming here mingled 

 with rain on the night of 28th April. The thermometer ranged 

 over 48° — from 71° 2 to 23. The maximum was unusually low, 

 and I have no record of so low a fio^ure as was attained on the 

 morning of the 5th, 23°. The mean temperature 47°. 86 was 31 

 above the five years, 1863-67 ; S. E. winds prevailed, which 

 though often blowing at this time of year, are generally out- 

 numbered by north winds. The mean force was still very great, 

 but no gales ; nothing beyond the very high wind which accom- 

 panied the rain-fall on the last day ot the month. Daflbdils 

 blossomed on the 3rd, and asparagus was lit to cut on the 17th. 

 On tho 28th the narcissus was in liower, and the cherry was n^;t 



