140 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



larger ones averaged one to every yard, the smaller ones one 

 to every inch. The lleview for the State of Iowa, by G. 

 Hinrichs, gives maps showing the rainfall during thirteen 

 storms, and illustrating the definite regular gradation of 

 rainfall from the centre of a storm outward. The Signal 

 Service Review for August lias an especially interesting ab- 

 stract of a report, by Professor W. H. Brewer, on the tornado 

 at AVallingford, Conn., on the 9th ; it also gives a remarkably 

 long list of tornadoes and local storms during the month. 

 At the close of this Review there is given a list of Signal 

 Service stations at which the duration of the total eclipse 

 was observed. As showing the extensive correspondence of 

 this office, it may be added that 295 stations are stated to 

 have sent in reports concerning this eclipse. 



The February number of the Journal of the Scottish Me- 

 teorological Society contains a discussion, by Mr. Buchan, of 

 a series of observations made at Gordon Castle, by Mr. Hoy, 

 Secretary to the Duke of Gordon, and extending over 46 

 years, 1781 to 1827. The tables of mean monthly pressure, 

 temperature, rainfall, weather, and auroras form a remarka- 

 bly uniform and valuable series of observations. 



Captain Iloffmeyer, of Copenhagen, in some notes on the 

 recent winter in Iceland, states that in the autumn of 1877 

 very beautiful weather prevailed; the temperature of Septem- 

 ber was the highest in thirty years. A sudden change in the 

 weather occurred October 11, and a very stormy period in- 

 tervened, culminating in a hurricane from the northwest, with 

 a very cold snow-storm on January 6 and 7, 1878. February 

 and March were mild and damp. 



The climate of the well-known English resort Bath is 

 treated of in an essay by Rev. L. Blomefield, published in 

 the Proceedings of the Bath Natural History and Antiqua- 

 rian Field Ciub. This paper is based upon ten years of ob- 

 servations by the Bath Literary Institution. 



The importance of collating all data that can be obtained 

 from old records bearing upon climate, or questions of cli- 

 mate, cannot be too strongly urged upon those having ac- 

 cess to ancient records. Mr. Symons states that almost every 

 parish register or county history in England will repay one 

 for the search. He has already had the Saxon Chronicle 

 searched, and states that that of Ilolinshcd is in hand. 



