ALLISON — ON METEOROLOGY. 43 



know of in Halifax ; though approached within .8 on the evening 

 of the 7th of January, 1866. These extremes gave a range of 

 101°8 — somewhat more extensive than usual. The mean daily 

 range of temperature was 19°26, but on one day in January it 

 ranged 40° 7. 



The mean pressure of the year, abnormally increased in some 

 months by their want of heat, and lightened in others by excess of 

 wet, came out only .065 over the 12 years normal. The barometer 

 varied between 30.604 in January (a most extraordinary height in 

 Nova Scotia), and 28.830 during a snow storm in February; 

 giving a total range of 1.774. 



The mean pressure of vapour was .252, and relative humidity 

 80.2. Mean amount of cloud 6.02, which shews a comparative 

 deficiency in clear sky, readily accounted for if we examine below 

 the small proportion of absolutely dry days. 



45.24 inches of rain fell. This depth is above the normal of 

 this climate by 1.8 inches ; and it fell on 140 days, instead of only 

 124, the mean number classed as rainy. Though mentioned in 

 former papers, I may repeat, chiefly for the information of members 

 joined within the last few years, that I call a " rainy day " one on 

 which appreciable rain falls during any part of the 24 hours, and 

 as we measure to .01 of an inch, many days may appear " fine" to 

 the public, which the meteorological record marks as "rainy." 

 Time will not permit to give all the reasons for my introduction of 

 this method into Nova Scotia, but I may say I follow the classifi- 

 cation of the British Office, G. J. Symonds, and the most experi- 

 enced rain observers. 89 inches of snow fell, 8.2 inches more than 

 the 12 years normal ; though less than in 1871, 1872 and 1873, all 

 of which were exceptionally snowy years. And this snow fell on 

 60 days, a number 25 per cent, greater than the normal. Melting 

 this snow? (and I may mention in passing, what is known to most 

 of my hearers, that new fallen snow in this country gives an average 

 equivalent in water of one-tenth) , and adding its product to the 

 rain, we have a total precipitation of 54.18 inches, being 1.95 inches 

 greater than the normal depth. Our "dry days", (days be it 

 remembered without even .01 of precipitation), numbered 188. 



