INTRODUCTION. 



but in Skye the rainfall rises to and sometimes exceeds loo inches, while 

 on the shore of the Frith of Moray it is only about 26 inches. This differ- 

 ence in the rainfall, with the clear skies and bright sunshine which result 

 from it, makes the eastern station one of the earliest and finest grain-pro- 

 ducing districts in Scotland, while in Skye cereals cannot be cultivated 

 profitably. A similar but less marked difference is found on the south- 

 east coast of England, where on the Downs and the districts north of 

 them there is a rainfall exceeding 30 inches, while on the strip of coast 

 from Dover to the Isle of Wight the rainfall is below that amount. 



The influence of rainfall in producing local variations of climate has not 

 been taken into account by Dr. Hoffmann or the Phenological Committee 

 of the Meteorological Society in the preparation of their schemes of obser- 

 vation, and I have therefore worked it out in a manner which will best show 

 the part it plays in modifying the climate^ as well as in supplying the 

 moisture necessary to the growth of plants. The rainfall for each day 

 has been obtained by dividing the rainfall for each month equally over all 

 the days of the month ; and the accumulated rainfall is the sum of these 

 daily estimates for every day of the year, counting from the i st of January. 

 The humidity of the atmosphere is also an important factor in the produc- 

 tion of local climates and in the growth of vegetation, and it has there- 

 fore been included in the monthly meteorological tables. 



Explanations. 



The Diary consists of 365 pages, or one page for each day of the year, 

 and the number- of the page corresponds with the number of the day 

 counting from ist January. 



The ordinary figures {e.g., i, 2, 3, 4, &c.) refer to the day and also to 

 the page, and the Roman numerals {e.g., I., II., III., IV., &c.) to the 

 months. 



The blank spaces opposite the printed matter are for new entries refer- 

 ring to the plants, insects, birds, &c., already entered in the Diary, and' 

 the blank spaces between the different sections or headings for entries of 

 entirely new observations. For greater convenience of statistical treat- 

 ment and to economize space, new entries should be made in the day of 

 the year rather than the day of the month, and a table is given on the 

 last page of the index to facilitate this mode of entry. 



For explanations of the meteorological observations see page xxviii. 



The entries relating to plants and insects are made twice. The first 

 entry under the heading LOOK FOR is the date of the earliest appearance 

 of flowers and insects during the past twenty years. This entry is intro- 

 duced as a warning that the flowers and insects may be expected to 

 appear on or after that date in climates similar to that of Marlborough. 

 The number after this entry shows the page at which the second and 

 principal entry will be found. T*he second entry shows the average time 



