BY THE REV. R. F, WHEELER, M.A. 219 



general forwardness of the season, and the promising appear- 

 ance of the corn crops. At Kew Observatory the highest read- 

 ing of the barometer for the month was 30 • 311 on the 14th ; 

 the lowest 29-567 on the 23rd; the mean height was 29-982. 

 The coldest day of the month was the 6th, the mean tempera- 

 ture of which was 45-6°. The 19th was the warmest, 71-2°. 

 The humidity of the atmosphere varied more than in April. The 

 greater part of May was very calm. 



Wallington. — After the 1st the temperature began to fall. On 

 the 4th the thermometer fell below the freezing point ; and on 

 the 6th 12° of frost were registered, which did great damage to 

 the fruit crops. The after part of the month was favourable to 

 vegetation. 



Wylam. — Fine month. Barometer very steady ; mean height 

 29-924 inches. 



Mean temperature 64-14°. 



Ditto of thirteen years 51-84°. 



Excess of 1868 2-80°. 



Mean direction of wind, E. 

 Rain on five days : amount, 0*77 inch. 

 Mean height of river 1-87 feet. 



Violent thunderstorms all over England south of the Humber 

 on the 29th. 



Darlington. — May began with clear and dry weather. With 

 the exception of three days (the 9th, 11th, and 23rd) the month 

 was fine throughout. 



Solar Halos were seen at Wallington on the 6th. 



Lightning was seen, but thunder was not heard, at Allen- 

 heads on the 18th; at Wallmgton on the 18th; at Whitley on 

 the 29th. 



Thunder was heard, but lightning was not seen, at Allenheads 

 on the 24th; at Wallington on the 11th, 21st, and 24th; at 



