Proceedings of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club.

Date:
[1859]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Proceedings of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    portion of the history of Northumberland, by the accurate and beautiful surveys which have been executed at the cost of His Grace the Duke of Northumberland, by Mr. Maclauchlan. The Duke proposes, I believe, next to direct the attention of that ac- complished surveyor and antiquary to laying down the still more ancient series of fortifications, which stretch across from the hills near which we are now assembled, to the coast.' The tale of the curious sculptured stones, which have been foimd in close connection with so many of these camps, is yet un- told. Mr. Tate has been engaged upon this investigation, and will, I hope, ere long, have something to disclose to us. We need not despair, after the progress which has been made in deciphering the Runic inscriptions, that a key to the meaning of these strange circles, may be discovered. The past season has been very peculiar in its character. Suc- ceeding a year of unusual dryness, the same absence of rain has marked its course ; water has become scarce, and many weak springs have been dried up. From the 1st of January up to the 28th of September only 20 days of rain, and 34 days of changeable weather are noted, while we mark 214 days of fair weather. The winter was remarkably mild, the lowest temperature reached, being January 14th 27°, February 8th 29°, March 31st 25°, April 1st and 16th 26°. The summer which succeeded has been hot, the thermometer in the shade having reached, May 29th 78°, July 10th 76°, July 16th 86°, August 13th and 18th 76°. The average temperature at 8 a.m. has been January 40°, February 40°, March 43^-°, April 42£°, May 50^°, June 56°, July 60|-°, August 60£°, and September 53°. The fall of rain at Lilburn Tower from January 1st to September 14th has only amounted to 14-031 inches.f Notwithstanding the high temperature there has been an absence of thunder storms in this district; but the Aurora Borealis has appeared unusually early—on the 28th August. * Ancient Fortifications.—Yeavering, Akeld (Gleed’s Cleugh, Harehope), Humbledon, Green Castle (Cup and Saucer), Maiden Castle (Kettles Camp), Weetwood, Doddington, Horton, Chatton, Chillingham, Ros Castle, Lyham, Belford Moor (Roman), Belford, Outcliester (Roman), Spindlestone. Beacons.—Yeavering, Ros Castle, Warenton Law, Bamburgh, and Alnwick. fFALL of Rain at Lilburn Tower.—January 0-875, February 1'740, March 2 055, April 2-295, May 0-345, June 1-820, July 2-156, August T245, September 1-500. Total 14-031 inches.