46 METEOEOLOGICAL REPORT, 1S72, EY THE 



Meldon, near Morpeth. — A foggy month, with rain on twenty- 

 three days. From the long continuance of dull weather the far- 

 mers have had great difficulty in getting their turnips off the 

 tillage land. 



On the 6th a beautiful aurora borealis was seen, and on the 17th 

 and 26th lunar halos were seen. A rainbow seen on the 21st. 



Wylam. — On the 4th, from 6 till 8 p.m., there was a very fine 

 display of aurora borealis, extending over the south half of the 

 sky, from N.E. to S.W., and coming to an apex a little south of 

 the zenith. At 7|- p.m. the streams of light were very solid, and 

 blood red. This display was seen on the same day in JSorth 

 America, but commenced there at 11 p.m., and lasted till nearly 

 day-break. 



The month was remarkably fine and mild, without any snow. 



South wind was very prevalent, eleven out of thirty-three re- 

 cords of the wind having been from that point. Barometer and 

 thermometer both very steady. 



March. — 



Worse than the sun in March, 



This praise cloth nourish agues. 



— Old Proverb. 



Greenwich. — The mean temperature of March was 44 -6°, being 

 3*7° higher than the average of 101 years. The value was ex- 

 ceeded in the following years: 1779, 47°; 1780, 49-2°; 1815, 

 45°; 1822, 47'3°; 1830, 45-8°; 1841, 46'2°; 1842, 44-9°; 1859, 

 46-4° ; 1871, 44- 9°. The daily range of temperature was greater 

 than the average. The range of reading of the barometer during 

 March amounted to one inch. 



The fall of rain was 0'5 inch in excess of the average. 



The mean temperature of the first three months of 1872 was 

 43*0°, and this was only equalled once before in 100 years in 

 1846, 43 - 6°, and never exceeded. 



North Sunderland. — The month was mild dull and damp to the 

 14th. After that continued bad weather, ending in a storm of 

 snow and rain. 



AVallington. — The weather from the 1st to the 10th was fine 



