CXLIV ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



must be studied as a whole, as there is strong indication of inter-relation- 

 ship between the intensity and position of the extra-tropical belts of high 

 pressure and the formation of anticyclones in high latitudes. It does not 

 appear improbable that tropical barometric gradients may be the pulse 

 which first responds to a vaiying solar radiation and reacts on pressure 

 distribution. 



Time Service. — During the year ending March 31st, 1909, ninety- 

 five observations for time were made in the meridian with the transit 

 instrument; of these 78 were stellar and 17 solar observations. The posi- 

 tions of the stars were as usual those given in the " Berliner Jahrbuch." 



Preparations for the removal of the transit instrument, chronograph 

 and clocks to the new building on Bloor street were made in December, 

 1908, the Sidereal clock being stopped on the 15th, dismounted, thor- 

 oughly overhauled, cleaned and placed in its new position on December 

 23rd, the Mean Time clock being kept in its old position until the 

 Sidereal clock had been mounted and brought to its normal rate. 



The transit instrument was dismounted on the 18th December and 

 put on its new pier in the transit room adjoining the clock room the same 

 day and finally into position by the 29th. 



The Mean Time clock was then dismounted, cleaned and put on its 

 pier in the same room with the Sidereal clock. 



Both these clocks are on separate stone-capped brick piers on con- 

 crete foundations running down into the hard clay and welled in by 

 brick walls from the surrounding soil and building. The clocks are en- 

 cased in two cabinets with three-quarter length glass doors. These cab- 

 inets are movable, thus allowing the clocks to be got at for cleaning and 

 adjusting. The range of temperature which these clocks will be sub- 

 jected to will be very small compared to that in the old observatory. 



The transit pier has been carefully put up, being a stone cylinder 19 

 inches in diameter and about 7 feet long, embedded in a concrete founda- 

 tion built several feet into the blue clay and welled similar to the clock 

 piers. The transit instrument is bolted to an oval slate slab li/4 inches 

 thick and placed on top of the pier. 



A large amount of transit work has been done in tlie new position, 

 the clocks being gradually brought into tlieir normal rates, the time ex- 

 changes with Agincourt, Quebec, Montreal and St. John continued, and 

 time given generally Avhere required. 



A new improved switchboard with all the necessary electrical con- 

 nections on the clocks has been installed as also the fire alarm time signal. 



Advantage was taken during tlie building of the new pier for the 

 transit instrument, before the walls were erected, to determine the lati- 



