1896.] 



BEN NEVIS OBSERVATORY. — LOG-BOOK. 



371 



was seen as a well-marked arch up to about 30° from 

 horizon on its under side, the arch was much lower at 

 midnight, and the aurora was brightest at 23 h 30 m . 



Feb. 2. — At 9 h a double fog-bow was seen. An aurora 

 was seen at and after 20 h . There was a well-marked 

 single arch at 23 h . At 23 h 8 m the arch doubled and 

 became much brighter with streamers. There was only a 

 faint auroral light at midnight. A meteor fell at 23 h 10 m 

 in N.W., perpendicularly downwards from about 20° 

 above horizon. 



Feb. 3. — The aurora was bright at l h , but absent at 2 h . 

 The fog has varied from 3500 to 4500 feet, being highest 

 to the southward at l h . At 4 h cumulus-fog rose above 

 the height of the Ben and the hill-top was in fog at and 

 after 7 h . 



Feb. 6. — -At 4 a.m., what might be termed musical 

 hail was falling ; quite a chorus of musical notes was 

 heard as it struck against the fine icy fog crystals which 

 had formed upon the surface of the snow on the ground 

 and elsewhere. 



Feb. 8. — -Living flies have been seen on the snow 

 to-day, and some have been captured. 



Feb. 12.— At 17 h 25 m the top was clear except for 

 passing fog, but thick fog lay all round below. An 

 aurora was seen at 20 h , 21 h , 23 h , and midnight; 

 it was fairly bright at 23' 1 , and at midnight there 

 was a well-defined arch. Four ptarmigan were seen on 

 the plateau of storms. A meteor in N.W. about 40° 

 above horizon at 23 h . A meteor in N.N.W. about 45° 

 above the horizon at midnight. 



Feb. 13. — An aurora was seen at l h , 2 h , and 3 h . 

 Fog from 5 h to 9 h and 16 h to midnight, fog all round 

 below at other times from 3000 up to 4000 feet. 



Feb. 15. — The top was clear till 14 h . Box next 

 thermometers changed at 2 h . The fog was filling the 

 valleys up to about 3000 feet. The sky became more 

 and more overcast, and finally the clouds came down 

 as fog. A snow-bunting seen on roof of hotel at 9 h , 

 and two flew round Observatory at 16 h , going over the 

 cliff by the cairn, another flew past the Observatory at 

 16 h 20 m . Another was heard at 3500 feet. Fly at 4000, 

 and spiders at 3400 and 4300 feet were observed. 



Feb. 16. — Glories and fog-bow seen at 8 h . 



Feb. 17. — Fog crystals 8 inches long on stays of 

 chimney. From 14 h 30 m till 18 h 30 m down working 

 at the road clearing a drift below the last post and 

 some ice higher up. The road is now clear for any 

 horse up to the plateau of storms. Whilst at the road, 

 snow buntings were seen. A raven was seen at 3500 feet, 

 and a flock of small birds (20 to 30) flying round the 

 Ben from Glen Nevis across the lake. At 21 h the 

 minimum was taken in and thawed as it was coated with 

 ice; it was replaced at 9 h 15 m . An aurora was seen 

 at 23 h and 24 h . The arch was low about 10° and the 

 streamers not at all constant, but fairly bright. At mid- 

 night the arch only was seen. 



Feb. 18. — A faint auroral light at l h . The haze is 

 very thick to-day, up to about 4000 feet. Large glories 

 seen on Aonach Mohr, also yesterday between 15 h and 

 16 h . Aurora, 20 h , 21 h , 22 h and 23 h . Stars twinkling 

 greatly. At 20 h a meteor to N. At 16 h a snow-bunt- 

 ing. Horse with provisions up today. 



Feb. 19.— Aurora at 2 h . 



Feb. 20. — Summit clear and sky cloudless at 22 h and 

 midnight, and fog passing. Apparently a good deal of 

 fog hanging about hills. Lunar coronae seen. Tracks 

 of two foxes seen on lower part of plateau of storms. 

 Box changed at 22 11 15 m . 



Feb. 21. — Summit clear frequently during the day, 

 but sky cloudy. Thick haze and fog around. Air dry 

 in early morning, humidity being as low as 41 per cent, 

 at 6 h and 7 h . Horse with provisions up to-day. Marks 

 of an eagle seen to-day half-way between Second Gorge and 

 M'Lean's Steep, also two snow-buntings and a raven. 



Feb. 22. — Summit clear at times after 14 h , but sky 

 cloudy with cirro.-cum. Heavy banks of fog hanging 

 about hills all round. Snow-bunting seen at kitchen 

 window of Observatory. 



Feb. 23. — Top clear all day except for a little thin fog 

 passing occasionally. Sky pretty cloudy with cir.-c. and 

 cir.-s. all day. Fog lying about hills to E. and S. and 

 haze in valleys all round below. Air dry, very dry at 

 times, the humidity being as low as 13 per cent, at 5 h . 

 Lunar halo seen at 21 h , 22 h , and midnight. 



Feb. 24. — Sky overcast with cirro-stratus and stratus- 

 cuin. all day. General appearance of sky gloomy and 

 threatening. Thick haze in valleys below. Air very 

 dry all day. Lowest humidity 32 per cent, at 19 h . 

 Lunar halo seen at l h and 23 h . 



Feb. 25. — Gale from the S.E. all day. Tower screen 

 put out in the afternoon and was in use at 18 h and 19 h . 



Feb. 26. — Slight showers of snow fell during the 

 forenoon. Summit clear and sky cloudless from 15 h to 

 21 h , and air slightly dry from 16 h to 19 h . Fog all round 

 below and a few peaks showing through. Thick haze 

 in distance. A little cirrus seen above horizon to west- 

 ward. Lunar coronas at 21 h . Thermometer box shifted 

 at 15 h 15 m , but instruments were not changed. 



Feb. 28. — Summit clear except for a little fog passing 

 from 16 h to 19 h , and again after 23 h , but sky overcast. 

 Stratus-fog clinging to sides of hills all round. Lunar 

 halo seen at 23 h . 



Feb. 29. — Summit clear till 2 h , but sky overcast. At l h 

 stratus-fog clinging to hills to eastward, and at 2 h the 

 clouds were touching hills all round. Box changed at l h 

 10 m . Height not altered. 



March 1. — Heavy rain fell till 3 h , and very heavy 

 showers of snow since. 



March 2. — Thermometer box raised one step up. 

 Height above snow 46 inches. 



March 3.— Thermometer box shifted at 13 h 20 m . 



March 4. — Summit clear at 9 h and 10 h , but sky cloudy, 

 and fog in valleys below all round. 



March 7. — Summit clear after 8 h , but sky very cloudy 

 and ugly looking. Fog in valleys in forenoon to 

 northward and eastward, but this all cleared away, and in 

 the afternoon there was no appearauce of fog in any 

 direction. At 20 h fog was on again. Air very dry at 

 times in afternoon, humidity being as low as 29 at 14 h and 

 16 h . Thin haze in distance all round. Slight showers 

 of snow fell in early morning and evening. Solar halo seen 

 at 14 h and 15 h . Thermometer box changed at 12 h 20™. 



March 11. — Summit clear at times till 20 h , thereafter 

 fog cleared away leaving a perfectly cloudless sky. 

 Aurora with shifting streamers seen at 21 h , 22 h , and 

 midnight. Zodiacal light seen at 21 h . Snow-bunting at 



