1 
384 MR. A. w. Preston’s meteorological notes. 
]3orsistency Avith whicli tlie cold continued Avas remarkable, not 
one mild day occurring during tlie entire month, the highest day j 
temperature being but 45 degrees. Frosts occurred on twenty-three 
nights, and snow fell on eight days. There Avas but little bright 
Aveather, a dull monotony prevailing, Avhich Avas most depressing. 
"With the exception of a gale on the 1st, the Avinds Avere chiefly 
very light from the north, north-east, and east. The barometer 
Avas almost uniformly high and steady after the third day, the 
mean being higher than for any month in the year. I 
IMarcii. } 
i 
The monotonous cold for Avhich the Avinter of 1885-6 Avill ever 
remain remarkable continued, Avithout intermission, to the 18 th of 
this month. A biting gale from the east south-east prevailed on 
the 1st, folio Aved by a severe snoAvstorm in the evening of that day, 
and snoAV also fell on the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 13th, 15th, and 16th. 
The mean temperature of the first fortnight Avas 33.1 degrees, 
or nearly 1 degree colder than February, and on the first ^ 
eight days the ground Avas covered Avith snoAv. Frosts occurred j 
every night to the 18th, skating Avas freely indulged in up 
to that time. In many parts of the county ice formed early in 
January continued to the middle of March, and Avas in good 
condition for skaters the Avhole of that period. Skating in March 
is extremely rare, and the severe character of the season may be 
estimated, Avhen it is recollected that on the 12th March, 1886, 
over tAvo thousand persons Avere skating and sliding on the lake in 
Kegent’s Park. The last thirteen days of the month Avere more 
genial and spring-like, bringing up the mean temperature of the 
month to 40. 3 degrees, Avhich Avas over 5 degrees Avarnier than that 
of March, 1883, 4 degrees colder than that of March, 1884, and 
slightly Avarmer than March, 1885. The rainfall Avas light, gales 
occurred on the 1st, 2nd, 26th, and 31st, and the barometer ranged 
from 29.11 in. on the 2nd to 30.42 on the 11th. 
April. 
This Avas for the most part a cold, ungenial month. The first 
ten days AV'ero squally and rough, Avith shoAvers at times. A cold 
period of east Avinds set in on the 11th, and continued, Avith but 
little intermission, to the end of the month ; of this period it may 
