BY THE REV. R. F. WHEELER, M.A. 419 



During the early part of November low readings of the baro- 

 meter were generally recorded, followed by an increase on the 

 10th, and the readings then continued above the average till the 

 21st, when a very rapid fall took place from 30*18 inches to 

 29'03 inches on the 22nd. This was followed by a gradual in- 

 crease, but, with one exception, the mean daily values remained 

 ■in defect of the average till the end of the month. 



The mean pressure of the air for the month was that of the 

 average. Heavy gales of wind occurred on the 2nd and 4th, a 

 pressure of thirty pounds to the square foot being recorded. 

 The fall of rain was the same as the average. 



North Sunderland. — A stormy month with a low temperature. 

 There was a remarkable prevalence of westerly winds. On only 

 two days the direction was from any other quarter. On the 24th 

 from the north, and 25th from the south. 



Eothbury. — A very remarkable meteor was seen on November 

 6th, not only in the North, but nearly all over England. Tho 

 colour was reported from nearly every place where it was ob- 

 served, as being either dazzling white, blue, or bluish white ; 

 the one exception being Birmingham, where it is described as 

 being "yellowish red, then lurid red, then vivid gi'een, violet, 

 and orange." But it has been remarked, "the state of the at- 

 mosphere at Birmingham generally will be an amply sufficient 

 cause for the difference between that and other localities." 



Sir William Armstrong thus describes the appearance at Roth- 

 bury: — "At five minutes before seven on Saturday evening, 

 November 6th, while walking with my back towards the South 

 I was startled by a brilliant red light behind me, and on turning 

 I saw a magnificent meteor descending from the eastward at an 

 angle of about 45"^ to the southern horizon. Its colour was a 

 bluish white, and it left a train which looked exactly like that of 

 a large rocket, but which did not remain visible to my view for 

 more than about fifteen seconds. The meteor did not appear to 

 me to burst, although pieces seemed to separate from it before 

 it expired. At the moment of extinction it was about 12- or 14° 

 above the horizon, and its direction was then S.S.W. I am 



