244 TENTH ANNUAL EEFORT, ETC. 



country and tlie science of the world, and the success of wliicli depends 

 upon the accuracy, fidelity, and devotion of all who take part in it. 



A copy of the observations of each month must be forwarded for 

 publication during the first week of the following month. It should 

 be carefully collated by two persons, one of whom reads the figures 

 aloud. Each observer will receive for this purpose a double series of 

 blank forms, one of which will be retained by him. 



Many of the phenomena connected with the state of the atmosphere 

 are of great interest for comparative climatology, especially in a prac- 

 tical point of view. The periodical phenomena of vegetation and of 

 the animal kingdom, such as the epoch of the appearance and the fall 

 of the leaves, of the flowering and ripening of the more generally cul- 

 tivated fruits ; the seed time and harvest of plants ; the coming and 

 going of migratory birds ; the first cry of the frogs, the appearance of 

 the first insects, &c.; the moment of the closing of rivers, lakes, and 

 canals by ice, and of their opening ; the temperature of springs at 

 difi'erent periods of the year ; the temperature in the sun compared to 

 that observed in the shade ; that of the surface, and that below the 

 surface of the ground. All observations of this kind are valuable.^ 



The observer will find it very instructive to project curves which 

 indicate the diurnal monthly or annual variations of temperatures, of 

 atmospheric pressure, of moisture, &c., as well as thermometrical, 

 barometrical compasses, or circles, &c. 



These graphic representations are of the greatest utility for the 

 comparisons, speaking to the eye more clearly than simple figures. 



Besides the above directions for keeping an ordinary Meteorological 

 Journal, more special instructions for the study of peculiar meteoro- 

 logical phenomena are prepared by the Smithsonian Institution ; 



as on 



Thunder-storms, Tornadoes, and Water-spouts, Aurora Borealis, 

 Parhelia, Parasalenes, Haloes, Kainbows, Temperature of the soij. 

 Periodical phenomena of the vegetable and animal kingdoms, Graphic 

 representations of meteorological phenomena, &c. If any observer 

 should feel inclined to devote himself to the study of any one of these 

 physical problems, he may receive, on application, the special instruc- 

 tions relating to the point which he wishes to investigate. 



[The directions given in the preceding article are not intended to 

 supersede those printed on the sheet of blank forms issued jointly by 

 this Institution and the Patent Office, but to impart additional 

 instruction, particularly to those who are furnished with a full set of 

 instruments and desire to attain as much precision as possible.] 



