NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.
71
BOTANY
Cystopus lepigoni, De Bary, in Essex.—This rare species of Micro-
fungus was found on the leaves of Spergularia marina at Deadman's Point,
Canvey Island, on June 23rd, by Mr. Whitehead, the Assistant in the Essex
Museum of Natural History. The species was first recorded for Great
Britain in September, 1864, by Mr. R. G. Keeley, who found it growing upon
Spergularia rubra in Swanscombe Marshes. It was also recorded by Mr. F. J.
Warren in 1872, who detected it upon S. marina at Fareham, Hants. Mr.
George Massee, F.L.S., was kind enough to confirm the determination of the
Essex specimens.
METEOROLOGY.
The Weather of 1900.—The following interesting summary of the
weather in the United Kingdom during 1900 is re-printed from the Standard of
January 4th, 1901 :—
" The character of the weather was exceptional in many respects during
the past year, although there were but few features of striking interest. There
was a remarkable freedom from spells of cold, and very little frost ; whilst
fog was comparatively rare. Rain was more than usually frequent, although
the total measurement was not everywhere above the average, and a greater
degree of warmth than usual has prevailed during the winter months. Wind
storms were not at all frequent, and, with a very few exceptions, those
experienced were not severe, although, towards the close of December, heavy
gales occurred over the whole of the British Islands. July was the only
summer month with especially high temperatures, and, although thunder-
storms were fairly frequent, they were not generally heavy. The aggregate
rainfall for the year was in excess of the average over the greater part of the
Kingdom, the greatest excess being about Sin. in the west of Scotland and in
the south of Ireland. In the western districts of England the excess amounted
to 3in., but in the Midland districts the total rainfall was in agreement with
the average, while in the east and south of England there was a deficiency of
about 2in. The number of days with rain ranged from 255 in the north of
Scotland to about 180 in the Midland Counties and in the south of England.
The temperature was nearly everywhere in excess of the average. There was
rather a larger amount of bright sunshine than usual, the excess on the
average being more than 100 hours in the south of England and in the
Channel Islands.
" In the neighbourhood of London, as shown by the observations made
at Greenwich, the total rainfall for the year was about 2in. less than the
average of the previous 60 years. The total measurement was 22.3in., and
during the last 18 years there have only been three years with an excess of
rain. The wettest month of the year was February, with a total fall of
3.61in., which is 2.12in. above the average. The only other wet months were
January, with an excess of 0.40in.; June, with an excess of o'78in.; and
December, with an excess of about 0.6in. The driest month was September,
with a total rainfall of 0.76in.; and in both March and April there was less
than an inch of rain. The greatest deficiency was 1.43in. in September and
1.24 in October. In the five months July to November the deficiency
amounted to 4.1m. Rain fell in 182 days, and with practically the same