46 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



been received from each observer. A memorandum is also made of 

 deficiencies, omissions, instruments used, discontinuance, change of 

 address, or such other items as may be necessary for reference or to 

 show the character of the observations. The date of the reception 

 is marked in red ink on each register, and they are placed on 

 shelves, those for each month being kept together. With the re- 

 gisters, letters are often received asking for information on meteor- 

 ological and other subjects. These embrace a very wide range of 

 inquiry, and, with the other letters received, make large demands on 

 the time of the secretary. When a number of registers have accu- 

 mulated, they are sent to Professor Coffin, at Easton, Pennsylvania, 

 who, with his corps of assistants, makes the reductions and prepares 

 them for publication. 



Early in March, when a sufficient time is supposed to have elapsed 

 to allow all, or nearly all, the registers for the preceding year 

 to be received by due course of mail, an examination of the record 

 is made, and a notice is sent to each observer, Avhose register for 

 any month may not have reached us, informing him of the deficiency, 

 and requesting that, if possible, it may be supplied. 



It sometimes happens that through loss in the mail or other causes 

 the blanks fail to reach some of the observers, and their stock, there- 

 fore, becomes exhausted before the time for the semi-annual distri- 

 bution. In such cases, as soon as the Institution is informed of the 

 fact, a new supply is forwarded. 



Three forms of blanks are now distributed, corresponding to the 

 three classes of observers: First, a large blank, marked No. 1, which 

 contains columns for the records of the barometer, its observed 

 height, attached thermometer, and height reduced to the freezing 

 point; of the thermometer in the open air; the psychrometer, or 

 wet and dry bulb thermometer; the depth of each rain and snow, 

 with the time of beginning and ending; the direction and force of 

 winds; the kind, amount, and motion of clouds; and also for the force 

 of vapor and relative humidity of the atmosphere as deduced from 

 the observations with the wet and dry bulb thermometers. 



Second, a blank half the size of the former, marked No. 2, and 



containing all the columns which are on the first blank, except those 



for the barometer and psychrometer, and the deductions from them. 



Third, a blank the same size as the second, marked No. 3, and 



