XXX. RAIN PHENOMENA 98 XXXI. THE METEOROLOGY OF BEN NEVIS 102 XXXII. THE WEATHER AND INFLUENZA 107 XXXIII. CLIMATE 110 XXXIV. THE "CHALLENGER" WEATHER REPORTS 114 XXXV. WEATHER-FORECASTING 116 INDEX 124 PREFATORY NOTE I am very much indebted to Dr. John Aitken, F.R.S., for his great kindness in carefully revising the proof sheets, and giving me most valuable suggestions. This is a sufficient guarantee that accuracy has not been sacrificed to popular explanation. J. G. M'P. RUTHVEN MANSE, _June 10, 1905_. METEOROLOGY CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Though by familiarity made commonplace, the "weather" is one of the most important topics of conversation, and has constant bearings upon the work and prospects of business-men and men of pleasure. The state of the weather is the password when people meet on the country road: we could not do without the humble talisman. "A fine day" comes spontaneously to the lips, whatever be the state of the atmosphere, unless it is peculiarly and strikingly repulsive; then "A bitter day" would take the place of the expression. Yet I have heard "_Terrible_ guid wither" as often as "_Terrible_ bad day" among country people. Scarcely a friendly letter is penned without a reference to the weather, as to what has been, is, or may be. It is a new stimulus to a lagging conversation at any dinner-table. All are so dependent on the weather, especially those getting up in years or of delicate health. I remember, when at Strathpeffer, the great health-resort in the North of Scotland, in 1885, an anxious invalid at "The Pump" asking a weather-beaten, rheumatic old gamekeeper what sort of a day it was to be, considering that it had been wet for some time. The keeper crippled to the barometer outside the doorway, and returned with the matter-of-fact answer: "She's faurer doon ta tay nur she wass up yestreen." The barometer had evidently fallen during the night. "And what are we to expect?" sadly inquired the invalid. "It'll pe aither ferry wat, or mohr rain"--a poor consolation!