REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



25 



reduced and partly tabulated, thus closing the series conducted by the 

 Institution relative to temperature. 



2. The temperature and rain-fall observations made at a large num- 

 ber of stations in British North America have been tabulated to the 

 end of the year ISTi. This was a special matter undertaken to facili- 

 tate and extend the rain-fall discussion. 



3. A number of averages have been computed and the work continued 

 relative to the publication of a second edition of the memoir on the rain- 

 fall of the United States, which will embrace additional material. 



4. Meteorological information has been furnished in many instances 

 to individuals making application therefor, they bearing the expense of 

 the clerical labor involved in the copying. 



To complete the reduction and discussion of the system of meteorology 

 conducted by the Institution, there remain the observations relative to 

 the pressure of the atmosphere, and also those relative to moisture, 

 thunder-storms, and casual phenomena. These will be taken up during 

 1877. 



TELEGKAPHIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF ASTRONOMICAL DISCOVERIES. 



The arrangement which was concluded between the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution and the Atlantic cable companies in 1873, by whicli free tele- 

 graphic transmission of astronomical discoveries was granted between 

 Europe and America, has been continued during the past year. 



The following is a list of the small planetoidal bodies discovered in 

 1876, the most of which discoveries were announced through this Insti- 

 tution : 



A stellar outburst in the constellation of the " Swan" was observed 

 November 24, 187G, by Dr. Schmidt, at Athens ; a phenomenon similar 

 to the remarkable stellar outburst which occurred in the '' Northern 

 Crown" in May, 1866, though not so brilliant, as it did not apparently 

 exceed the light of a star of the third magnitude at its greatest bright- 

 ness. At the close of the year it had dwindled to the lowest visible 

 magnitude. 



* The figures in the last column of the table represent the mean distances of the 

 several bodies from the sun, that of the earth being taken as unity. 



