26G TRANS. OF THE ACAD. OP SCIENCE. 



Dr. Engelmann read a paper, presented for publication by 

 Dr. C C. Parry, entitled "Notice of some additional observa- 

 tions on the Physiography of the Rocky Mountains, by C. C. 

 Parry, M.D." Referred to the Committee on Publication. 



Dr. Engelmann submitted some remarks upon the Fall of 

 Rain at St. Louis: 



The heavy rains of the 29th and 30th of March last have induced me to 

 examine my meteorological records, in which every fall of rain since Jan- 

 uary 1, 1838, is noted. As the result ot these investigations, I lay before 

 the Academy the following table of the heaviest falls of rain in every 

 year, and of all the rains over 4 inches. It will be seen that the maximum 

 in one year (1842) was not quite 2 inches ; in 7 years (1838, '39, '43, '^53, 

 '57 '61, anl '04) it was between 2 and 3 inches ; in 7 years (1840, '43, 

 '49' '5b '0(3, '60, and '63) it reached between 3 and 4 inches ; in 8 years 

 (1841, '44, '40, '50, '54, '55, '62, and '65), between 4 and 5 inches; in 2 

 years'(1852 and '58), between 5 and 6 inches ; in 1847, between 6 and 7 

 inches ; and twice (in 1848 and 1859) over 7 inches. 



In 13 years, therefore, more than 4 inches of water were precipitated in 

 a single fell of rain ; generally only once in one year, but in 1858 twice ; 

 and lour times in the memorable wet year of 1848. 



Of the 32 lieavy rains recorded in the table, one-fourth (or 8) tell in 

 June • 5 in May ; as many in August ; 3 in March ; 2 each in April, July, 

 October, and December; one only in January, February, and November; 

 and none in September : 17, therefore, or over one half, tell in our rainy 

 season of three months, from the middle of April to the middle ot July ;* 

 5 or nearly one sixth, tall in the month of August, and the other 10 are 

 distributed through the other eight months of the year. 



Heaviest Rains in St. Louis in everyy ear from 1838 to 18G5, and 

 alt Rains over four inches during that period of 28 years. 



Hours Amount 



t, t within which of Rain 



L,ale * the Hain fell. in inches 



1838. January 6-7 



1839. June 7-8 



1840. October 18 ■ 

 1841. 



the Hain fell. 



14 2.07 



30 2.81 



21 3.73 



August 22 ,5 4.78 



1842. June 30 



1843. June 9 



16 1.96 



2 2.30 



1844. May 15-16- 



1845. May 22-. •• 



1846. June 3-4 



33 4.37 



11 3.70 



15 4.00 



49 6.59 



1847. October 20-22 ^ •» 



1848. May 6 f — g-^ 



» June 2 



" June 21-22 



" August 15 



1849. July 5-6 



1850. November 26-27 



1851. August 2-3 £ If 



1852. March 11-13 53 5.54 



1853. May 2-3 §5 2.88 



1854. April 26-27 '. ;.".'..'.".'. .'!V.^ 7.!.'!! 8 •••'••• IllS 



.'...'...............'. 5 3^80 



29 7.65 



1 5.05 



30 3.88 



26 4.38 



1855. August 15 



1856. April 30 •■ 



Th* true rainy season generally extends only over about six weeks, which fall be- 

 tween the limits above assumed. 



