NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. 413
high level gravel appear on the drift maps of one-inch to the mile. For
example, in the part of Essex within the limits of this map there are
three gravels of various ages, coloured on the one-inch map, red, light-pink
and orange respectively. These are all coloured red on Mr. Woodward's map
because they are all found on high ground and not in valleys. However, all
these gravel patches are of latter date than the Bagshot Beds, and if they
vary as regards their relation to the Boulder Clay, they are all older than
the valley gravels of the Thames and Lea. And in this case the chief
requisite is not a minutely accurate classification as regards time, but a clear
perception of the positions of the various areas of low and high-level gravels,
of sand, limestone, or clay.
T. V. Holmes.
NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.
METEOROLOGY.
Rainfall and Temperature in Essex in 1898. In continuation of
the reports for 1897 (see E.N., ante p. 237) we now print some records from
various observers in Essex during 1898 :—
Lexden, near Colchester.—Mr. S. F. Hurnard writes:—"I send you the
monthly totals for rainfall as measured by my 5in. certified Snowdon Guage
at Lexden, with brief remarks on the general weather of each month :—
Remarks.
Very mild.
First half generally mild, then colder.
Coldest month of the winter, some snow.
Variable— cold winds and frost.
Cool and showery—crops looking well.
Cool. Hay well secured.
Cool. Sixteen days absolute drought.
Very hot period, 10th to 23rd.
Hottest September for many years, 19 days
absolute drought.
Calm and mild. Root crops helped by the
rain.
Low even temperature, little frost.
Generally mild and unsettled.
"There was a partial drought of 46 days from August 30th to October
14th, during which 44 inch of rain fell. The year was notable for the
absence of very heavy falls of rain in 24 hours, the maximum fall in one da
being .66 inch. on December 6th."
Notes on Meteorology at Colchester.—The following observations are based
on the readings taken daily at the Borough Surveyor's Office, Stanwell-street,
Colchester, for the past twelve years (see also ante p. 239), as communicated
to the Essex County Standard :- -
" The hottest day during the whole of that period was September 9th,
189S, when the thermometer rose to 92 degrees in the shade, the next highest