Royal Society. 293 



attended the employment of Mr. Fox's instrument, in observations of 

 the magnetic dip and intensity on shipboard. 



3. "A few remarks on a Rain Table and Map," drawn up by 

 Joseph Atkinson, Esq. Communicated by P. M. Roget, M.D., 

 Sec. R.S. 



The table and map which accompany this paper exhibit the ave- 

 rage annual depth of rain falling in different places in Great 

 Britain. 



4. " Extracts from a Meteorological Journal kept at Allenheads, 

 in the county of Northumberland," by the Rev. W. Walton, F.R.S. 



The general result of these observations, which were recorded 

 twice each day, namely, at 9 A.M., and at 3 P.M., during the whole 

 of the year 1839, is, that the mean temperature taken at those times 

 was 44 8' ; the mean height of the barometer, corrected and re- 

 duced to the temperature of 32, was 28'401 inches, and the quan- 

 tity of rain in the year was 55'71 inches. The author subjoins se- 

 veral remarks on the conclusions deducible from an examination of 

 the tables. 



5. " Description of an Astronomical Clock invented by the late 

 Captain Henry Kater, F.R.S.," drawn up from his own memoran- 

 dums by his son Edward Kater, Esq. Communicated by Sir John 

 F. W. Herschel, Bart., V.P.R.S. 



The great object aimed at by Captain Kater in the construction of 

 the escapement of a chronometer, is to communicate equal impulses 

 to the pendulum through some principle perfect in itself, and not 

 dependent for its success on superior execution. In the escapement 

 invented by him, the pendulum merely raises a weight, and is im- 

 pelled by that weight through an increased space in its descent. It 

 neither unlocks a detent, nor has anything to do with the train ; 

 and as the weight raised, and the spaces described, are constant 

 quantities, this escapement is, in the strict meaning of the term, one 

 of equal impulse. 



May 7. A paper was read, entitled " Researches in Embryology, 

 Third Series : a Contribution to the Physiology of Cells." By 

 Martin Barry, M.D., F.R.S., F.R.S.E., Fellow of the Royal Col- 

 lege of Physicians in Edinburgh. Of this paper an abstract was 

 given in our number for June, vol. xvi., p. 526. 



A paper was also read, entitled " On the Odour accompanying 

 Electricity, and on the probability of its dependence on the presence 

 of a new substance ;" by C. F. Schcenbein, Professor of Chemistry, 

 Bale, communicated in a letter to Michael Faraday, Esq., D.C.L., 

 F.R.S., &c. 



The author's attention having been long directed to the remark- 

 able fact, that odour, resembling that of phosphorus, is given off 

 during the escape of positive electricity from the point of a con- 

 ductor into air ; and is likewise perceptible when lightning has 

 struck any object, and also when water is electrolyzed, he has in- 

 vestigated the circumstances attending these phenomena ; and the 

 results he has obtained will, he expects, afford a clue to the discovery 

 of their cause. 



