610 
was 5 degrees below freezing. A gradual fall in the barometric 
pressure was recorded from 29.864 on the 10th, to 29.093 on the 
19th, followed by a rise to 29.742 on the 21st, and a further rise 
from 29.706 on tlx© 22nd, to 30.356 at 9 p.m. the 24th; frequent 
slight showers of snow were recorded, and the winds were very 
calm, chiefly from W.S.W. and W.1ST.W. A sudden fall in the 
barometric pressure from 30.356 at 9 p.m. the 24th, to 29.481 at 
9 a.m. the 26th, was attended by a very sudden change in the 
temperature from frost to thaw; early on the 25th the thermometer 
recorded only 16.0, but at 9 p.m. the 26th, it registered 41.0, and 
increased rapidly, the high maximum of 54.0 being recorded on 
the 30tli, followed by the remarkably high minimum of 48.0 in 
the following night. The barometer during the last six days 
oscillated slightly at about 29.500 : the weather was very gloomy, 
with frequent slight showers of rain, and a strong W.S.W. gale on 
the 31st. The mean barometric pressure was about 0.200 in. 
deficient, and the rainfall was half-an-inch below the average. 
The mean temperature of the month was about 5.5 degrees below 
the average. Mr. Glaisher states that at Greenwich, during the 
last 100 years, there have only been ten instances when the mean 
temperature of December was so low as that in 1878. 
The total rainfall for the year was 25.44 ins., being 1,55 in. 
above the average of the last 37 years. 
