loo Scientific Intelligence — Meteorology. 



promises to yield nearly one-third more rain than the hamlet of 

 Seathwaite, in Borrowdale, hitherto, with good reason, considered 

 to be the wettest spot in the three kingdoms. This, the new station, 

 *'the Stye," on SprinkHng Fell, is about a mile and a half distant 

 from Seathwaite, in a south-westerly direction, and 680 feet 

 above it, at the extreme southern termination of the valley. The 

 actual quantity of water measured in eleven months of 1850, 

 was 174-33 inches ; but as the receiver was found running over on 

 four different occasions, the loss is calculated at 5 or 6 inches at 

 least; and 6 67 is added, making the quantity in eleven months 

 180 00 inches. Adding to this 9*49 inches, the depth for January, 

 computed from that for January at Seathwaite, it appears that the 

 whole depth of rain fallen at "the Stye," in 1850, was 189 49 

 inches. Mr Miller further remarks, that the wettest year since 

 the commencement of the observations was 1848, when 160-89 

 inches fell at Seathwaite ; and computing the fall at the new station 

 for that year, we have 211*62 inches for the depth of rain at " the 

 Stye" in \MQ.— Fletcher Miller, Esq., F.R.S. 



2. On the Relation of the Direction of the Wind to the Age of 

 the Moon, as inferred from Observations at the Royal Observatory, 

 Greenwich, from 1840 November, to 1847 December. By G. JB. 

 Airy, Esq., F.R.S. , Sfc, Astronomer Royal. Received January 

 1851. — The author states, that in a voyage to Shetland, in the year 

 1849, he heard allusions to the belief entertained generally by Nor- 

 wegian seamen, that a northerly wind may always be expected about 

 the time of new moon. The expression of this belief was so positive, 

 and the implication of the interests of the persons entertaining it was 

 so distinct, that it appeared to him extremely probable that there 

 was some physical foundation for it. At the first convenient oppor- 

 tunity he therefore took measures for discussing, with reference to 

 this question, the directions of the wind at the Royal Observatory 

 during a period of rather more than seven years, as ascertained from 

 the records of Osier's self-registering anemometer. He extended 

 the research so far as to enable any one to judge whether there is 

 any probable relation between any direction of wind and any age of 

 the moon. 



The collection and summation of the numbers was effected under 

 the immediate superintendence of Mr Glaisher ; and great pains were 

 taken to establish such checks on the operation that error is con- 

 sidered to be almost impossible. 



The general result is contained in a table subjoined to the paper. 

 This exhibits the number of hours during which the wind blew in 

 each of sixteen equal divisions of the aximuthal circle, and also the 

 number of hours of sensible calm, in the period extending (with 

 very small interruptions) from 1840 November, to 1847 December, 

 arranged in reference to the days of the moon's age. The author 

 remarks, that while this table shews that there is a great uncertainty 



