( II ) 
ON 
THE METEOKOLOGY OF ENGLAND 
DURING 
THE QUARTER ENDING MARCH 31, 1861. 
By JAMES GLAISHEE, Esq., F.E.S., 
SEO. OF THE BKITI8H METEOROLOGICAL fOCIETT. 
The rapid thaw whicli set in on December 30, 1860, continued 
only till the 1st of January, 1861, on -which day the temperature 
rose to 47°; it fell to 28° by the morning of the 2nd. 
From January 2nd the weather was cold ; on the 6th, 8th, 9th, 
and 10th days the departures below their averages were 12°-4, ll°-0, 
10°-4, and 14°-0 respectively, and the average dail}^ deficiency to 
the 23rd day was 3°-7 ; a warm period set in on the 24th, and con- 
tinued for the most part till the end of the quarter ; the average 
daily excess for the 67 days ending March 31 was 3°-3. The cold 
of the first half of January this year was more rigorous than in any 
corresponding period since 1820. 
The mean high day temperature in January was 3^° below, in 
February 3i° above, and in March 2f° above, their res;^)ective 
averages of the preceding 20 years. 
The mean low night temperature in January was 5° below, in 
February 3f° above, and in March lf° above, their respective 
averages. Therefore, both the days and nights in January were 
extremely cold, especially at the beginning of the month ; and in 
February and March both were warm. 
The mean pressure of the atmosphere in January was a little 
above, and in February and March below, their respective averages 
of the past 20 years. 
The temperature of the dew-point in January was 5°'3 below, and 
in February and March was 5°-0 above, their averages. 
The fall of rain in January was 0'5 inch, in February 1-8 inch, 
and in March 2-2 inches. The sum for the three months was 4*5 
inches, being 0-5 inch below the average. 
The temperature of vegetation, as indicated by a thermometer 
placed on grass, was below 40° on 84 nights, and above 40° on G 
nights. 
The mean temperature of the air at Greenwich for the ihree 
months ending February, constituting the three winter months, was 
34°-0, being -5° below the average of the preceding 90 years. 
