a north-east direction over the north of Ireland and across the middle of Scotland, reached Aberdeen at midnight. Its rate of progress (not the velocity of the wind,) being about 30 miles an hour. The centre of the storm was probably about 400 miles to the north of us at the nearest point of passage. The gale however extended to the south of France, and Switzerland. There were only four frosts in February against an average for 25 years of 9'4°, and none of them were at all severe, 27 4° on the 3rd being the minimum reading; the aggregate degrees of frost being 9°-average 41·4°. In the three years, 1882-3-4 (February), 13 nights 26.8° 288.1° In the year 1867, after very sharp frosts in January, there was no frost at all in February, although a severe snowy March followed. In 1872 there was again an entire absence of frost in this month. The mean temperature both at Greenwich and Ross was 41.9°-24 degrees warmer than the average has been exceeded 20 times since 1771. March was again an exceptional month, with a mean temperature of Ross 44.47 or three degrees in excess of usual heat. The week ending the 19th was the warmest in March since 1814, having a mean temperature at Greenwich of 53.3°, or 12 degress in excess of average, with a maximum temperature of 68.8° at Greenwich, and 66'0° at Ross on the 16th. On the 23rd, the wind, which had scarcely blown at all from a Polar quarter, shifted to north, and then to east, and continued from that quarter pretty much to the end of April; the last half of that month being cold in consequence. RAINFALL. There was a slight excess in all the months except December, which had a fall of only '64. The only other instance of so small an amount in December being in 1873, when 52 was recorded. In most instances a small fall in December coincides with frost, as in 1829, 1835, 1840, 1844, 1846, 1879, in each of which years we had very little rain and very intense frost: 1857 and 1883 being exceptions to the rule. To sum up. The special feature of the winter is the great warmth of January, February, and March, 1884. January, with a mean at Ross of 44.76°, and at Greenwich of 43 88°, was the warmest since 1834, which was 44'0°; 1846 coming next with 43·7°, and 1875—43'4°. The following table for three and five months respectively, ending March 31st, will perhaps be enough to establish the claim set up at the commencement of the paper for the exceptional character of the season. MEAN TEMPERATURE FOR EIGHT COLD AND EIGHT WARM WINTERS, 1771-1884. Average for Five Months ending March 31st. 1822-44 4. Each month in considerable excess, specially November and March. 1846-437. Each month in considerable excess, specially January. 1884-42 9. 1779-42 9. 1882-43'4. Each month in considerable excess, specially November and March. 1834-42 9. Each month in considerable excess, specially January. 1872-413. All in excess except November, which was very cold. I give a list of garden plants in flower from December 31st to 10th January ; also, of some wild ones observed at Symonds Yat on the 18th of March, which show the influence of weather on vegetation. Polyanthus Periwinkle, large Periwinkle, small Marigold Pink Mignonette Laurustinus Fever-few Violets Violets, double Hepatica, blue and pink Auricula Pansy Fumitory Berberis, aquifolium Winter Aconite Anemone, white, pink, and purple Fragrant Coltsfoot Potentilla opaca Pyrus japonica Corchorus japonicus Calendula officinalis Daphne mezereon Daphne Fioniana Lithospermum prostratum Erysimum pulchellum Anthemis tinctoria Winter Jessamine Penstemon, Escallonia, and Snowdrop, in bud. OBSERVATIONS ON SUNSETS AT THE GRAIG, ROSS, FROM NOVEMBER 26TH TO DECEMBER 9TH, 1883. 213 feet above the sea-level. Sunrise and sunset have been well observed at this station during the last fortnight. On Sunday evening, November 25th, after eleven days of very stormy weather, during which more than two inches of rain fell, with occasional heavy squalls, a fine rainbow appeared in the north-east, and after dark, the thunderstorm which was then affecting the south coast, was visible here in frequent flashes of distant lightning. On Monday evening, the 26th, we had the first, and perhaps the most striking, of the series of gorgeous sunsets and sunrises we have since been privileged to witness. The storm-clouds which, though rapidly clearing, were still passing over, served to bring out in strong contrast the vivid and varied hues of gold and pink, and green, which illuminated the more distant cirrus clouds, as well perhaps as the volcanic or other particles in the still higher regions of the atmosphere, if not indeed above its actual limits. On the succeeding night the western sky was covered with a belt of mottled clouds which successively assumed almost every shade of colour from pink to intense carmine. This extended more than half-way to the zenith, and was faintly reflected in the eastern sky. On Tuesday, the 4th of December, after a glow of extreme brightness, which brought out to perfection the architectural features of the large perpendicular window in Leominster Church, and adjoining Norman gateway and tower, the moon presented a most unusual appearance through a slight haze. At one time it was a bright bluish green, and then became more of the colour of steel. The twilight effects have been specially remarkable,-I speak as a close observer for more than forty years- not only on account of their splendid colouring, but from their unusual prolongation, and from their being seen in the "dark days" of early December. Last summer, from the Trossacks end of Loch Katrine, I saw what I considered to be the finest pictorial effect of sunset I had ever previously witnessedbut the sunsets lately seen have a peculiar character which I cannot describe. I have seen very little Aurora during the period. I notice that one correspondent alludes to the autumn of 1870 as being remarkable for splendid skies and followed by intense frost. At that period there were some splendid exhibitions of Aurora Borealis. Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club. MAY 15TH, 1884. THE BLACK MOUNTAIN AND CWM-YOY. "In those vernal seasons of the year, when the air is calm and pleasant, it were an injury and sullenness against Nature not to go out and see her riches, and partake in her rejoicing in heaven and earth."-MILTON. THE first field meeting of the year is always interesting. It is a practical recognition that all nature bas awoke up from winter's rest and is once more in full activity. The naturalist throws aside his everyday work, and his books, and says to himself, now rather let us read "The Living Page whose every character The Woolhope Club had invited the Malvern Club to meet them on this occasion, and together, from the Barr's Court station, the naturalists proceeded to Pandy. Here they were welcomed by General Gillespie, of Trewyn House, who had kindly undertaken to be the guide for the day, aided by that excellent Welsh scholar, the Rev. John Davies, of Pandy. At the station, "orders" were given for the immediate assault of the camp situated on the brow of the first spur of the Black Mountain. The river Hondda was crossed, to Trewyn House, and on the road, some stones were pointed out as having probably rung to the clang of the Roman horses' hoofs some eighteen centuries since. At Trewyn House, Mrs. Gillespie joined the visitors, on horseback, and after a good three quarters of an hour's climb, at eleven o'clock, punctual to a minute, the camp was reached. Here, seated on the entrenchments, Dr. Bull read the following "Field Address": Ladies and Gentlemen of the Malvern and Woolhope Clubs,-We meet to-day in one of the most interesting localities of the county. In this district the summit of almost every hill is crowned by an entrenched camp-testifying clearly to the warlike character of the inhabitants; whilst in the plains below, at intervals, are large tumuli or barrows-"tumps," as they are locally called-which bear sad evidence to the thoughtful mind, of the fierce and bloody conflicts which have been fought near them. Almost every village has the remains of a castle. Kilpeck, |