METEOROLOGICAL NOTES. 
49 
Petrologists will greatly miss the help of John Arthur Phillips, 
F.B. S., whose sudden death on January 5 removed one of their ablest 
thinkers. Mr. Phillips was more than a geologist; he could bring to 
hear upon geological problems chemical and mineralogical powers of 
the highest order. His work bore mainly on the practical side; 
amongst the mines of Cornwall or in the goldfields of California he was 
almost equally at home. But with, and above, all his scientific 
abilities, he showed kindliness, large-hearted sympathies, and simplicity 
in the most marked degree. 
Mr. Herbert Spencer.— Naturalists interested in the synthetic 
philosophy will be glad to hear that Mr. Herbert Spencer has just 
re-published, with additions, in a small 8vo volume (pages I.-IV., 
1-70), the two important articles which appeared under the title of 
“ The Factors of Organic Evolution” in the “ Nineteenth Century ” for 
April and May last. The preface, which is dated “ Brighton, January, 
1887,” and shows that the distinguished author is still at work, states, 
inter alia :—“Though the direct bearings of the arguments contained 
in this essay are Biological, the argument contained in its first half 
has indirect bearings upon Psychology, Ethics, and Sociology. My 
belief in the profound importance of these indirect bearings was 
originally a chief prompter to set forth the argument, and it now 
prompts me to re-issue it in permanent form.” 
METEOROLOGICAL NOTES.— December, 1886. 
This month will he ever memorable in meteorological annals for the 
exceedingly low pressure on the 8th, when the mercury fell, at Lough¬ 
borough, to 28’008 inches, and at Hodsock Priory to 27‘801 inches. 
The fall was very rapid, the reading at Loughborough at six o’clock on 
the previous evening being 29'477 inches, and at six p.m. on the 10th 
it had risen to 29'392 inches. On the 31st, the reading at eight a.m. 
was 30-579 inches, giving a range which is seldom, if ever, attained in 
one month. Temperature was also very unequal. The mean 
was about five degrees below the average. The highest 
maxima were:—56'0° at Henley-in-Arden, 54-7° at Loughborough, 
53'2° at Hodsock, and 52-5° at Coston Bectory, on the 6tli. On the 
same date, in the rays of the sun, 88T° was recorded at Hodsock, and 
87T° at Loughborough. The minimum readings showed an unusual 
degree of frost. The mercury fell to 12-0° at Coston Bectory, and to 
17’4° at Hodsock, on the 18tli; to 16'0° at Henley-in-Arden, on the 
31st; and to 17'0° at Loughborough, on the 21st. At Hodsock, the 
thermometer on the grass registered 103° oh the 18th, and at Lough¬ 
borough 15'5°, on the same date. Bainfall was above the average. 
The amounts collected were 4-36 inches at Henley-in-Arden, 3'85 
inches at Coston Bectory, 3'52 inches at Loughborough, and 3'51 
inches at Hodsock. At Henley-in-Arden 1-20 inches was measured on 
the 26th. The number of “ rainy days ” varied from twenty-one to 
fourteen. Lightning was observed at Loughborough on the evening of 
the 18th, and lunar halos on the 3rd and 16th. Gales were of 
frequent occurrence during the month. Mock moons (paraselence) 
were observed at Coston Bectory, at five p.m., on the 1st. 
Wh. Berridge, F.B. Met. Soc. 
12, Victoria Street, Loughborough. 
