208 
mr. a. w. preston’s meteorological notes. 
September. 
This was an exceedingly fine, dry, and pleasant month, with 
much warmth at times. The mean temperature was slightly above 
the average, and above that of the previous September, although 
it fell short of those of the two previous years. It was, however, 
the third year in succession on which 80 degrees was reached in the 
same month. The rainfall was very deficient, in fact it was the 
driest September but two for thirty-five years past, the two 
exceptions having been 1895, when the total fall was 0.48 in , and 
1898, when it was but 0.17 in. 
October. 
The mean temperature was 1.7 degrees above the average, and 
the rainfall was 0.79 in. deficient. A great outburst of heat 
occurred on the 9th, the thermometer reaching 75 degrees, a very 
unusual reading for October. There was but little rain during the 
first half of the month, but during the latter part rain fell almost 
daily. An almost entire absence of frost kept garden flowers 
in bloom to a late period. Lightning was seen on four days, and 
thunder was heard on two days. A gale from the north-west 
occurred in the early morning of the 27th. 
November. 
With the exception of two or three fine days in the second week, 
this was a damp, dreary, and dismal month throughout. Rain fell 
on twenty-five days out of the thirty, and from the 12th to the 
30th there was only one day without rain. The falls were, 
however, so comparatively light that the month’s rainfall was more 
than half an inch under the average. Temperature kept high 
throughout, the mean being nearly 3 degrees above the average. 
December. 
The month was exceedingly mild throughout, the mean tem- 
perature being almost identical with that of December, 1898, which 
had been the mildest for thirty years past. Temperature exceeded 
50 degrees on fifteen days, and there were only four nights with • 
frost (in screen). A tropical rain fell on the 30th, amounting to 
1.23 in. in the twenty-four hours. This was the heaviest fall 
