ice during the winter of 1904-5 at different points on the Great Lakes, and display 

 of storm signals on the lakes. 



Temperature and relative humidity data, W. B. Stockman ( U. S. Bept. Agr. t 

 Weather Bur. Bui. 0, pp. 29, charts 2). — This pamphlet consists of a series of tables 

 which show for each month of the year and for each AVeather Bureau station that 

 has been in operation at least six years, the highest and lowest temperatures, respec- 

 tively, that have been observed from the beginning of observations until the end of 

 1904; the monthly and annual mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures, 

 and monthly and annual mean relative humidity. 



A preliminary investigation of the more important features of the meteor- 

 ology of southern Asia, the Indian Ocean, and neighboring countries dur- 

 ing the period 1892-1902, J. Eliot {Indian Met. Mem., 16 (190.5), pt. 2, pp. 181- 

 307 + XL VII, pis. 22; rev. in Nature [Lwiclori], 73 (1905), Xo. 1884, pp. 136, 137).— 

 It is stated that the period covered by this report "was unique in the meteorology of 

 India for the magnitude and persistence of the variations of rainfall, cloud, humidity, 

 and temperature from the normal." 



For the purposes of discussion the period covered is divided into 2 parts, abnormal 

 in opposite directions, (1) 1892-1894, characterized by excess of rain, cloud, and 

 humidity, and a reduced temperature, and (2) 1895-1903, characterized by deficient 

 rainfall, less cloud, drier air, and an average temperature above the normal. The 

 normal annual rainfall for the period, calculated from data from 450 stations, was 

 41.09 in. The normal rainfall for the 3 years above noted as abnormally wet was 123 

 in., the total rainfall for the period being 143.5 in., an excess of 20.5 in. The total 

 rainfall for the 8 years 1895-1902 was 303.8 in., a deficiency of 24.9 in. It appears 

 that all seasons of the year were affected by these abnormal conditions. 



Not only India, but other countries — Australia and South Africa — depending upon 

 the Indian Ocean for their rain, were in excess during 1892-1894 and deficient dur- 

 ing 1895-1902. Long-period barometric variations were similar in direction, amount, 

 and epoch for all India. There was apparently a 2-year period of barometric 

 oscillation. Observations with a black bulb thermometer indicate that during 1891- 

 1897 there was an excess of solar radiant energy and during 1898-1902 there was a 

 deficiency. The period of deficient rainfall was characterized by droughts and 

 famines. 



An appendix contains reports on two of the latter (in 1897 and 1900) as well as 

 detailed data relating to seasonal rainfall, rainy days, pressure, and dates of com- 

 mencement and ending of monsoon rains. 



British rainfall, 1904 (London: Edward Stanford , 1905 , pp. 88+ 279, ph. 8, Jigs. 

 14)-— This, the forty-fourth annual volume on British Rainfall, is compiled by H. R. 

 Mill, and is based upon the records of 3,982 rain gages distributed throughout Great 

 Britain and Ireland. 



It includes "(1) a report touching on the work of the rainfall organization; (2) 

 original articles discussing the rainfall of Ben Nevis, the driest Octobers on record, 

 and the twenty-four years' records of duration of rainfall at Camden Square; (3) 

 tables of duration of rainfall, amount of evaporation, and representative records of 

 daily rainfall (a new feature) at selected stations during 1904; (4) an account of the 

 staff of observers, and a list of the changes in the stations; (5) a record of the losses 

 of observers by death, with a few biographical notes; . . . (6) the observers' remarks 

 on rainfall and weather; (7) a discussion of heavy falls of rain with a minute investi- 

 gation of the distribution of rainfall on the wettest days; (8) discussions of droughts, 

 rainy spells, number of rainy days, and intensity of rainfall at selected stations; (9) 

 a general discussion of the relation of the monthly and annual rainfall to the average; 

 and (10) the general table of annual rainfall at all stations, together with the names 

 of the observers or responsible authorities." 



