EEV. E. F. WHEELER, M.A., AND DR. HOOPPELL. 45 



and snow on four days. Prom the 8th the weather was open hut 

 dull, with considerahle rain to the end of the month. 



Meldon, near Morpeth. — This has been a remarkably mild 

 month. The lowest minimum temperature was 24° on the 21st, 

 and the highest was 54° on the 31st. 



The first thrush was heard to sing on the 18th, twenty-eight 

 days earlier than last year. 



"Wylam. — A changeable month. The fluctuations of the baro- 

 meter singularly frequent and abrupt ; and twice at distant 

 intervals the mercury fell below 28 '500 inches. The mean tem- 

 perature of the month was 2 '98° above that of the preceding six- 

 teen Januaries. 



Blackbirds, thrushes, and robins in full song nearly daily. 



February. — 



On Candlemas day, if the thorns hang a drop (icicle), 



Then yon are sure of a good pea crop. 



Old Proverb. 



Greenwich. — The mean temperature of February was 44*8°, 

 being 6-3° higher than the average of 101 years. The instances, 

 back to 1871, in which the mean temperature of February ex- 

 ceeded 44° are as follows: 1779, 45-3°; 1792, 44*7°; 1809, 44-1°; 

 1850, 44-7°; 1867, 44-7°; 1869, 45-3°. The daily range of tem- 

 perature was greater than the average. 



The mean temperature of January and February was 43*5°, 

 which has only been exceeded twice in the previous 100 years, 

 viz., in 1846, 43-80°; and 1869, 43*20°. 



The changes in the barometer were small, the absolute range 

 being only seven-tenths of an inch. 



The fall of rain was 0*08 inch in defect. 



North Sunderland. — Very little sun or wind. Constant fog 

 and moist. Farmers unable to work their land from its wetness. 



"Wallington. — The weather was open, dull, and wet. The only 

 snowstorm was on the 1 6th. 



Rothbury. — Grand display of aurora borcalis on the 4th. 

 Thermometer lowest on the 8th, and highest on the 1st and 29th. 



