mr. a. w. preston’s meteorological notes. 
593 
a marked difference in the public health between the two occasions, 
the death rate in Norwich for the four weeks in January 1892 
being respectively 33, 31, 40 and 45, against 24, 25, 27 and 25 in 
1893. It is somewhat remarkable that, with the exception of 
1890, every January from 1885 to 1893 inclusive has been colder 
than the average. 
February. 
The weather throughout the month was changeable, but for the 
most part exceedingly mild for the season. The mean temperature 
was higher than in any February since 1885, and about one degree 
in excess of the average. There were frequent storms of wind and 
rain, hut although rain fell on many days, the only heavy fall was 
on the 21st, when 0.G3 in. was measured. There was but little 
frost, which was more remarkable from the fact of the two 
preceding months having been abnormally cold. The barometer 
oscillated much, some deep depressions crossing the country ; that 
on the 21st was an unusually deep one with a minimum here of 
28.73. The barometer also fell below 29 ins. on the 26th. These 
were the only two occasions throughout the winter upon which low 
barometrical readings were registered. 
March. 
For bright sunshine and warm days there have been few Marchs 
to surpass that of 1893. The thermometer exceeded 50 degrees 
on every day but five, and 60 degrees on six days. The readings 
on the 24th (G5.2), 30th (G7.0), and 31st (67.5) have not been 
equalled in March since 1884, when the thermometer reached 
68 degrees on the 1 6th. The mean temperature of the month 
(44. G), nearly 4 degrees above the average, was higher than in an}’ 
March since 1882, although 1884 was almost as warm. The 
nights of the second half of the month were, however, exceedingly 
cold, the screened thermometer falling below the freezing point 
on every night from the 17th to the 31st, while on the grass 
10 to 12 degrees of frost were recorded on many occasions. This, 
combined with an almost complete absence of rain during the last 
fortnight, had the effect of somewhat checking vegetation, which 
was becoming abnormally forward. At the close of the month it 
w'as quite a fortnight later than in 1882, and a week later than in 
