COUNCIL LOR 1888 . 
18 
Rain fell upon fewer days than usual since 1871 and was 
very deficient except in July and November. The heavy snows 
in March also aided in making the total (25T6 inches) slightly 
above the average. Most excessive was the July record of 
6J5 inches, or nearly one quarter of the total fall in the year. 
From 1841 to 1871 over 4 inches was recorded in July only in 
1855 (4TO inches) ; since then this is the fifth record, the 
amounts being 4*72 in 1872, 4T7 in 1879, 5*21 in 1880, and 
4 - 53 in 1883. Hence this year’s fall was quite unprecedented. 
Yet it was not until after the November storms that the ground 
regained its wonted moisture, which had disappeared since early 
winter, 1887. 
Floods have again been notably few. Only on March 10th 
(8ft. 2in.) and in November (9ft. on 3rd, 8Jft. on 14th, 8ft. 2in. 
on 16th, 9 Jft. on 25th) did the Ouse rise above 8 feet. On July 
26th it reached 7\ feet in consequence of the disastrous floods 
in Wensleydale and Swaledale. 
The Barometer had slightly less range than in 1887. 
January and September gave high means, whilst those for 
March and July were decidedly low. In November there was 
an unusual number of depressions of considerable depth off our 
western coasts, so that more storms occurred in that month than 
in the rest of the year. 
No Auroras have yet been noted, but their reappearance 
before long may be expected, as sun-spots have begun to 
increase rapidly in number. 
Henry Richardson, Escp, has again kindly supplied additional 
returns from Cherry Hill and Cherry Bank; and Richard 
Thompson, Esq , from Oswaldkirk. There is considerable 
divergence between the distribution of “ bright sunshine ” 
recorded at the latter place and York; this is the first time 
that the total at York has been the greater. 
77 New Members, 9 Lady Subscribers, 11 New Associates, 
1 County Member, 2 Life Members, and 3 Temporary Sub¬ 
scribers, have been added to the Society’s List during the past 
year. 
