Some ItemarhaUe Features in the Winter of 1890-91. 427 
south and west, and a decided increaie in tlie percentivge of winds 
fi"oni between noi'tli and east. Taking the points from between 
south-east and west as representing tl.e equatt)rial, or mild, winds, 
■wetind that the total percentage during last winter was only 38, the 
average for the previous twenty seasor.s being 61. Taking, on the 
other hand, the points between north-west and east, as representing 
the polar, or cold, winds, it appears that the total percentage was 40, 
or 10 more than the average for the pre^•ious twenty years. Summing 
up, therefore, the state of the wind as experienced last winter in 
London, we tind that when the weather was not absolutely calm, there 
was an undue prevalence of breezes from some cold quarter. The per- 
centage of winds from the southward did not amount to one half of 
the average. 
Fog. — The anticyclonic conditions which prevailed over England 
so constantly throughout the winter were accompanied, as one would 
naturally expect, by frequent fogs, more particularly over the inland 
districts, and most especially of all in the neighbourhood of London. 
The gloominess of the weather, as experienced in the metropolis, is 
shown very forcibly by the subjoined table, which gives for the 
whole of the past twenty winters the number of days on which 
fog was reported, together with the average for the entire period, 
and the actual number experienced in 1890- 91. 
Table showing Kinnher of Days of Fog in London during each 
Winter^ \^lQ-li to 1890-91. 
Winter 
Xo. of 
davs 
of fog 
Winter 
Xo. of 
days 
of fog 
Wiitcr 
Xo. of 
days 
of fog 
Winter 
Xo. of 
days 
of fog 
1870-71 
11 
1875=-76 
22 
1880-81 
32 
1885-86 
33r 
1S71_72 
10 
1876-77 
9 
1881-82 
31 
1886-87 
39 
1872-73 
24 
1877-78 
22 • 
1882-83 
32 
1887-88 
20 
1873-74 
31 
' 1878-79 
23 
1883-84 
18 
1888-89 
32 
1874-75 
17 
1879-80 
43 
188i-85 
18 
1889-90 
32 
Average number of days of Fog during the winter « #25 
Actual number experienced in 1890-91 « » t » 50 
It will be seen that not only was the prevalence of foggy weather 
in London greater last winter than in any of the previous twenty 
seasons, but that it amounted to no less than twice the average. 
The nearest approach to so foggy a winter was in 1879-80, when 
the number of days was 43, or seven less than that recoi'ded 
during the winter under discussion. In no other season was the 
number anything like so great as it was last winter, and in three 
of the seasons quoted the amount of fog wag less than one quarter 
X)f that experienced in 1890-91. 
F F 2 
