144 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



The "Meteorology of the Bombay Presidency," by Charles 

 Chambers, Superintendent of the Colaba Observatory, has 

 been received during the year. In this great work there is 

 given a very brief sketch of the history of the observatory, 

 and a full discussion of its meteorological records for twenty- 

 six years ; and similarly for four small observatories at the 

 military stations. Part III. gives the principal results of obser- 

 vations, and especially rainfall, at civil and military hospitals 

 and revenue stations. Part IV. gives some principal points in 

 the general character of the climate, which are elucidated by 

 a reference to known physical laws. The volume is accompa- 

 nied by a collection of elaborately prepared systems of graphic 

 presentation of the meteorological observations. A baromet- 

 ric variation, having a period of one eighth of a year, is de- 

 duced. The thermometers for temperature were during part 

 of the time protected from radiation on all sides, but were ex- 

 posed on the ordinary English stands during the greater part 

 of the period. The vapor pressure is calculated by Apjohn's 

 formula, and the dryness of the air is expressed by figures, 

 which give the capacity of the air to contain more vapor. 

 The temperature of the ground is given for the depth of 1 

 inch, 6 inches, etc., down to 12 feet. The temperature is also 

 iriven for a thermometer laid on the ground, with the bulb in 

 contact with it. The thermal coefficients of the soil for each 

 pair of thermometers have been computed according to Pro- 

 fessor Everett's method. It should be noted, however, that 

 the soil at Bombaj r , for a large part of the year, is permeated 

 by rain-water. The rainfall for 282 stations is discussed with 

 especial thoroughness. He shows that the rains accumulate 

 in the stratum of air just above the earth's surface, and the 

 light rains accumulate more than the heavy rains do, to the 

 extent of nearly 1 per cent. The wind velocity is recorded 

 by Robinson's anemometer. The wind directions are sub- 

 jected to elaborate computations, showing the components 

 of the winds, their annual mean motions, their persistency, 

 their systematic oscillations of short period, etc., etc. 



A peculiar interest attaches to his chapter on the physical 

 explanation of the meteorology of the Bombay Presidency. 

 With this chapter goes the best map on the topography and 

 drainage of the Bombay Presidency that has as yet been pub- 

 lished. 



