70 Royal Society. 



fresh but steady breeze from the north-west, during the continuance 

 of the phenomenon. 



*' Without entering at present into any disquisition upon the causes, 

 I will now state the meteorological results which I immediately an- 

 ticipated and haVe seen to follow these atmospheric phenomena. 



" I have observed, and have stated my observations for some years 

 past, that the certain result of all meteoric coruscations and irides- 

 cences in the sky, is a fall of rain, snow or hail, — on this general prin- 

 ciple, that the condensation of the crystalline particles of floating 

 vapours which ensue upon electrical action, must be followed by pre- 

 cipitation ; and these coruscations and iridescences are both the 

 reflected evidences of such condensation of crystalline matter, and 

 therefore the harbingers of such precipitation. It is the case with 

 solar and lunar rainbows, falling stars, mock-suns, halos, lightning, 

 aurora, and that undefined pearly lustre which sometimes appears 

 in the neighbourhood of the sun. 



"Accordingly, on the following morning, Saturday the 18th, I 

 found the barometer had sunk considerably, and the wind had veered 

 round from north-west to south-west, against the course of the sun, 

 both in general, and especially when united, the forerunners of rain. 

 Accordingly at 2 o'clock p.m. a smart shower came on in Northamp- 

 ton, but was of short duration. At 9 p.m. a heavier shower was ex- 

 perienced at Brixworth ; and in the course of the night, but I cannot 

 say at what hour, I was awakened to a still heavier shower ; but the 

 quantity of rain that had fallen did not seem to have affected the 

 ground much on the following morning, and therefore I conclude 

 that it was not great. 



*' Sunday the 19th was fine and bright; the wind went up to the 

 westward, and the barometer rose rapidly — a general indication of 

 an early change. Towards morning of Monday the 20th, another 

 shower fell, and the wind went back to the south-west with a falling 

 barometer. In such cases I generally find that rain ensues about 

 midday, or at least when the wind and sun meet in the south-west. 

 But on this occasion it continued blowing strong all the day, and 

 for some time in the night with increased violence. But at last the 

 wind fell, and was succeeded for awhile by heavy rain, thus verify- 

 ing my anticipations on this particular occasion, and the general 

 theory which I have discussed." 



April 19. — "On the Meteorology of the Lake District of Cum- 

 berland and Westmoreland." By John Fletcher Miller, Esq. Com- 

 municated by Lt.-Colonel Sabine, R.A., For. Sec. R.S., &c. 



This paper contains the results of meteorological observations 

 made during 1848, similar to those made in the same district in 

 preceding years, which were last year communicated to the Society. 

 On these results the author remarks that the fall of rain in the lake 

 district, during the year IS^S, greatly exceeds the amount in any 

 other year since the register was commenced in 1844- ; and that 

 there is a similar excess with reference to the number of wet days. 

 The total depth of rain, in 1848, at Seathwaite, the wettest station, 

 was 160*89 inches ; and of this quantity, 114'32 inches fell in the 



