C III ) 
METEOKOLOGT.*— 1886. 
First Quarter (^January, February, March'). — The mean reading of 
the barometer at Greenwich was 29 "737 inches, and was 0*027 
below the mean reading for the corresponding period of 45 years ; 
the mean reading was below the average in January and March, 
while that in Febrnary was above the average. 
The weather in January, after the first five days, was cheerless 
and cold ; snow fell on every day in the month from the 4th, with 
the exception of the 14th, at one or other of the stations ; on 
several days it fell at all stations. The temperature of the air was 
above the average till the 5th day, as well as on the 13th, 14th, 
and 15th, and on the last day ; but on all other days it was below. 
The atmospheric pressure was generally below its average, parti- 
cularly on the 13th, when the weather was very stormy with very 
high wind ; the mean pressure for the month was lower than in 
any January since 1872 when it was 29-463 in., and back to 1841 
there have been only two other instances of so low a pressure, viz., 
in the years 1856 and 1865. 
The weather in February was very cold and dull, with scarcely 
any sunshine. Snow fell on the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th, and 
every day from the 14th to the end of the month, mostly at the 
stations in the Midland and Northern districts. The temperature 
of the air was below its average on every day, excepting the 13th 
and 14th, and particularly so from the 7th to the 10th, and from 
the 23rd. The mean temperature of the month was lower than in 
any February back to 1855, which was the coldest February this 
century. The atmospheric pressure was generally above its average. 
There was an excess of N. and E. winds. 
The weather in March till the 18th day was very cold, being tfearly 
10° below the average, then there was a sudden change to warm 
weather, the remaining 12 days being 6J° above the average. The 
atmospheric pressure was variable, being for several days together 
above, and tlien for several days together below the average. Snow 
fell on every day to the 6th, from the 12th to the 19th, and on the 
last three days of the month. The falls of snow at the beginning 
* Abstracted from the particulars supplied to the Eegietrar-General by 
James Glaisher, Esq., F.K.S., &c. 
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