196 
J. H0PKINS0N-METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 
The mean temperature of the year was very low, the mean daily 
range was small, and there was no very low minimum nor high 
maximum. With the exception of January, which had the average 
temperature of our period, every month up to November was cold, 
February and March being especially so. The last four months of 
1887 being cold also, there were thus fourteen consecutive months 
with their mean temperature never above the average adopted for 
comparison and frequently much below it. November and De¬ 
cember were warm. The mean pressure of the atmosphere was 
about the average ; the lowest pressures recorded at 9 a.m. were 
28-885 ins. on 11th and 28-837 ins. on 28th March, and the highest 
pressure was 30*742 ins. on 10th Jan., giving a range of P905 in. 
The rainfall was below the average, but the days of rain were 
numerous. The air was rather moist and the sky was cloudy. 
In the winter of 1887-88 (Dec. to Feb.) the mean pressure of 
the atmosphere was rather high, the mean temperature was low, 
and the rainfall was very small. In the spring (March to May) 
mean pressure was low and mean temperature very low (the daily 
range being small). In the summer (June to Aug.) mean pressure 
was rather low, mean temperature low, relative humidity great, 
and rainfall very heavy. In the autumn (Sept, to Nov.) mean 
pressure was high and rainfall small. Phenomena about the 
average are not here mentioned, as in 1887. The deviations from 
the mean of our period are as follows :— 
Difference in 1887-88 from Means of 1877-86 at Watford. 
Seasons, 
1887-88. 
Pressure. 
Temperature. 
Tension 
of 
Vapour. 
Humi¬ 
dity. 
Rainfall. 
Cloud 
0 - 10 . 
Mean. 
Daily 
Range. 
Total. 
Days. 
in. 
0 
0 
in. 
% 
ins. 
Winter . 
■+ '048 
— 2*1 
—o-i 
— -021 
— 1 
— 3-96 
— 2 
+07 
Spring . 
-•073 
—27 
— 2-6 
+•029 
+ 2 
+ 0-09 
+ 6 
+ 0-5 
Summer. 
—-048 
—2-4 
— 1-9 
—-oi 1 
+ 5 
+ 3’42 
+ 16 
+ 1-2 
Autumn. 
+•082 
+ 0-1 
—o -6 
— -005 
+ 1 
- 2-17 
— 5 
+ 1-0 
Notes on the Months. 
January. —Of average temperature and cloudiness, with an 
atmosphere of average humidity and very considerable pressure, 
and a small rainfall with very little snow. During the first half 
of the month there was much fog ; for the 6 days 9th to 14th pre¬ 
vailing without intermission. Coldest day 30th, mean 27 0, 5 ; 
warmest day 8th, mean 48°*1. Min. below 32° on 17 days (above 
40° on 8th and 9th ); max. above 42° on 17 days, above 52° on 2 
(8th and 9th). 
February. —Yery cold (2^° colder than January) and dull, with 
a rather dry atmosphere of average pressure, and a small amount 
of rain almost entirely falling as snow. Coldest day 2nd, mean 
29 0, 5 ; warmest day 6th, mean 45 0- 8. Min. below 32° on 21 days, 
