218 
the 30th of January the thermometer again fell below the freezing 
point, and was succeeded by dry, cold, gloomy weather throughout 
February ; the temperature was G.G degrees below that of January, 
and the rainfall, including several showers of snow and sleet, was 
0.08 in. deficient; the winds were mostly from the E., JST.E., and 
N. W. The barometric pressure averaged very high until the 22nd, 
then the readings fell from 30.140 at 9 p.m., to 29.382 at 3 p.m. the 
24th. The mean temperature of February was so unusually low 
that Mr. Glaisher states, that only fourteen times during the last 
hundred years has it been below 35 degrees. With the exception 
of the 7th, 8th, and 9th of March, which were mild days with S. 
and S.W. winds, the cold weather continued until March the 23rd, 
with E., N.E., and N. W. winds ; the remaining days, except the 
28th, were much milder. A strong S.W. and W. gale was recorded 
from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the 9th, the velocity in the twelve hours 
was 250 miles. The mean temperature for the month was the 
lowest since 1870 ; frosts occurred on sixteen nights. Barometric 
pressure averaged high, no unusually sudden oscillation was re- 
corded. Rain fell on only eight days, and was the smallest amount 
recorded in March since 1856 ; the total fall was 1.09 deficient. 
April commenced with a very rapid fall in the barometric pressure 
from 30.538 on the 1st, to 29.258 on the 5th; this was followed 
by a rise to 30.179 on the 10th, after which the pressure remained 
high, and slight variations were recorded, the winds being chiefly 
from the N.E. and E. and without any rain. The days during 
April were mostly overcast and cloudy, except from the 16th to the 
20th which were fine, bright days ; the rainfall, which fell on only 
five days, between the 4th and 9th, was 0.85 in. deficient. The 
temperature averaged at about the normal value, but considerable 
variation was recorded in the day temperatures, which averaged 
56.0 on the first seven days, fell to 41.0 on the 9th, increased to 
66.0 and 65.5 on the 20th and 21st, followed by three cold days 
of 49.8, 47.5, and 48.5. The temperature rose 11 degrees on the 
25th, and was succeeded by fine, mild weather, which lasted 
throughout May. The unusually high temperature of 80.8 was 
recorded on the 15th of May ; and during the month on only 
eight days was the maximum temperature below 60 degrees, and on 
only two nights the minimum below 40 degrees. The rainfall was 
again deficient, causing the fall for the spring months (March to 
4 
