( ni ) 
The weather in August was also wet, cold, gloomy, and cloudy. The 
only period of moderate warmth was the six days from the 7th to the 12th, 
and at all other times it was cold. The fall of rain about London was a 
little above the average, but was generally less than the average at the 
other stations. The want of suushiue prevented fruits ripening, and was 
most unfavourable for harvest operations. 
The month of September was dry, the first ten days were moderately 
warm, but generally cold afterwards ; the middle fortnight was fine and 
pleasant. The fall of rain was below its average at all stations. The 
mean temperature of the month was 55"7°. 
Fourth Quarter. — The weather in Octobei- was remarkably severe till 
the 25th, with frosts in the morning and email rainfall. The temperature 
was below its average on every day till the 24th, and particularly during 
the first ten days — on some of these days the temperature of the air was as 
much as 14° or 15° below their averages. The end of the month from the 
25th was warm. The month was fine and dry. 
The month of November was for the most part cloudy, mild, and wet. 
The temperature was generally below its average till the 10th, and above 
it from the 11th. The fall of rain was above its average. 
The month of December was cloudy and mild till the 8th, from the 9th 
to the 18th it was cold, dry, and frosty, and from the 19th it was again 
mild, with rain. The temperature of the air was below its average from 
the 9th to the 18th, and on the last two days, and above it on the remaining 
days. The fall of rain was a little above its average at some places, and 
below it at others. Fogs were prevalent, and some were very dense. 
Wind Observations. — The average duration of the different directions 
of the wind at eight points of the compass in each month of 1888, at the 
Royal Observatory, Greenwich, was as follows : — 
Months 
N.W. 
N. 
N.E. 
E. 
S.B. 
s. 
S.W. 
W. 
January . 
February . 
March 
April . . 
May , . 
June . . 
July . . 
August 
September 
October . 
November 
December 
days 
4 
.5 
5 
4 
2 
2 
5 
3 
6 
9 
1 
2 
days 
2 
5 
4 
5 
3 
6 
3 
2 
3 
2 
0 
1 
days 
5 
9 
4 
6 
8 
5 
2 
5 
8 
6 
2 
2 
days 
2 
2 
2 
2 
1 
1 
1 
0 
1 
1 
2 
1 
days 
5 
1 
2 
0 
2 
1 
1 
1 
0 
1 
12 
7 
days 
2 
0 
1 
3 
2 
2 
2 
0 
2 
1 
1 
7 
days 
9 
■ 4 
10 
8 
11 
11 
15 
18 
9 
10 
11 
10 
days 
2 
3 
a 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
1 
1 
1 
1 
Totals 1 
for 1888 J 
48 
36 
62 
16 
33 
23 
126 
22 
The following Table (I.) gives the Meteorological Observations recorded 
at the Hoyal Observatory, Greenwich, for each month of the year 1888 : — 
