COUNCIL TOR 1893. 
13 
In the Ornithological Department, the most important 
additions have been made through the kindness of the Rev. 
Canon Raine and Dr. Tempest Anderson. 
From the former gentleman we have received a fine example 
of Stercorarius parasiticus , Linu. (Buffon’s Skua) an adult 
bird shot in Bridlington Bay, on September 26th, 1893. 
From Dr. Anderson we have received a skin of an adult 
Great Northern Diver from Ioeland, along with a considerable 
number of Eggs (mostly Ducks’) likewise from Iceland, and all 
taken during the season just past. 
As in previous years, a few fresh cases have been added to the 
new British Bird collection, but some half-dozen more are yet 
required to fill the Gallery. 
Meteorology. —In contrast to 1892 the past year is notable 
as the warmest since 1868, the temperature being in excess in 
every month except January. In March the excess was as 
much as 4*65° and in April, May, and August, it exceeded 
3°. This was due to the unusual amount of sunshine, as the 
excess depends almost entirely upon the maxima. The year’s 
mean (49 5° for the mean of the maxima and minima) is 
FS° above the 50 years’ mean, a value only twice exceeded, 
namely, by the record of 50’0° in 1846, and 49*9° in 1868. 
Two other years, 1863 and 1884, were equally warm; the 
latter was, indeed, decidedly warmer when tested by the 
means for 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. This follows from the high value 
of 1893 being caused by high maxima. The mean 57’5 is 
indeed higher than any of our records, the nearest being 57T 
in 1846. The mean of the minima is only half a degree above 
the average. The three summer months each gave absolute 
maxima considerably above 80, the highest, 85’3 on July 9th, 
being 7T° higher than last year. 80° or above was recorded 
three times in June (19-21) in July (2, 8, 9) and five times 
in August (8, 14, 15, 17, 18) or eleven times in all. The 
extreme range, 78‘3, is the most since 1881 (82 2°), being 
exceeded only twice besides, in 1873 (79°) and 1854 (82’5°). 
The maximum in March (68°) is slightly higher than our 
previous records, though not more than a degree above those 
for 1841, 1884, and 1892. The mean max., 55*5°, is over a 
