Civ PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
in consequence of the excess of insect life, birds were more than 
usually numerous, and seemed also to be more tame than usual. 
With regard to our forest trees, acorns and horse chestnuts were 
exceedingly numerous and well developed as regards size, but the 
beech trees, on the other hand, bore a very small crop of fruit. 
The effect of the season on the health of the community may be 
seen at a glance from the following comparative table of the death- 
rate for Perth during the summer months of 1900 and of 1901 :— 
1900. 
1901. 
May, - 
2 3’3 
i6'8 
June, 
- 20’9 
I 5‘5 
July, - 
I 4 ‘ I 
lS’2 
August, 
- I7‘2 
i6'6 
September, - 
20‘9 
T 3’7 
October, 
- i6*o 
i6'i 
It will thus be seen that the mean death-rate for the six summer 
months of 1901 was 16 '2 per 1000 of the population, as compared 
with 187, which was the mean death-rate for the six summer months 
of 1900. This shows pretty clearly, I think, the effect of the 
continuous sunshine on the vitality of the community. 
The comparative figures of the temperature and rainfall for the 
summer months of 1900 and 1901, as recorded by the instruments at 
Pitcullen, are as follows :— 
I. Mean Monthly Temperature. 
7900. 
7907. 
May, 
49-4° F. 
50-8° F. 
June, 
56 - 1 ° F. 
54 -i° F. 
July, - 
607° F. 
627° F. 
August, 
5 < 5 ' 6 ° F. 
59-2” F. 
September, - 
52-8° F. 
S 4 ' 4 ° F. 
October, - 
45 ’ 2 ° F. 
45 -i° F. 
The mean temperature for the six summer 
months of 1901 was 
thus 54'4° F., as compared 
with 5 3 '4° F. in 
1900. The highest 
temperature registered was 82*5° F., on 4th July, 1901, as compared 
with 78° F., on 14th August, 
0 
0 
ON 
M 
II. Monthly Rainfall. 
7900 . 
7907. 
May, 
i ‘65 inches 
o'6$ inches 
June, 
- 2'6l ,, 
4 ' 10 „ 
July, 
2 *97 „ 
1*13 » 
August, - 
- 3 ' 9 § „ 
420 „ 
September, 
1*84 » 
October, 
- 375 » 
1 '80 „ 
The total rainfall for the six summer months of 190T was thus 
1372 inches, as compared with 17'28 inches in 1900. There were 
