234 NOTES ON THE RAIN-FALL FOR 1859. 



The rain-fall during the past year, although greatly exceeding 

 that of 1858, can scarcely be called an average one. If we 

 take, as an example, the fall at Wylam, in the Yale of Tyne, 

 we shall find that the fall of 1859, although seven inches 

 greater than that of 1858, is still seven inches below the average 

 of the twelve preceding years. The additional fall has been 

 distributed pretty evenly over the whole year, with one remark- 

 able exception in the month of May. The fall in that month in 

 1859 is extraordinarily small, and is less than that in any single 

 month in the dry year 1858, or indeed in any month during the 

 four years over which our observations extend, the mean fall at 

 thirteen stations being -23, as compared with 1-65 in May, 1858. 

 The prevailing winds during this month appear to have been 

 S.E., E., and N.E. 



The sub-committee appointed at the last anniversary to 

 take such steps as they might think necessary to ensure 

 uniformity and accuracy in the returns furnished to the Club, 

 have paid considerable attention to the subject, and chiefly 

 through the exertions of Mr. H. B. Brady, have induced many 

 of our contributors who were not using properly authenticated 

 guages to procure them. By this means the returns from 

 Stamfordham and North Shields have been found to be erroneous, 

 and in the annexed table the quantities recorded in previous 

 years have been corrected with as much accuracy as possible, 

 from the data obtained from a comparison between the old and 

 new guages. Should others desire to adopt the same course, I 

 shall be glad to give them any information they may require. 



The gauge recommended for general use is one which has 

 recently been proposed by Mr. Glaisher. It consists essentially 

 of a funnel with an accurately -turned brass rim, enclosing an 

 area of fifty square inches. The funnel communicates with a 

 cylindrical tin-plate receiver, well japanned, so as to resist the 

 action of the weather. The rain collected is measured in a 

 graduated glass tube. 



At an Evening Meeting of the Club, held in December, Mr. 

 Glaisher, the Secretary of the British Meteorological Society, 

 was present, and Mr. Sopwith, the President of that Society^ 



