NOTES ON METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT PLYMOUTH. 177 



peculiar position witli respect to the entrance to the English 

 Channel and to the high plateau of Dartmoor. The whole question 

 is well worthy of full investigation. In the meantime one may give 

 Dr. Merrifield's observations as they stand. 



Averages for Twenty-six Years ending December, 1890. 



The following notes are given by Dr. Merrifield : — " The average 

 for five years is taken from the Quarterly Weather Report, Meteoro- 

 logical Office, January to March, 1870 ; rain gauge not used until 

 January, 1869. In ten years from 1869 to 1878, Mr. Balkwill, 

 Old Town Street (Plymouth), had 412*05 inches ; Navigation School, 

 363"19 inches. Hence 13'45 per cent, should be added to Navigation 

 School amounts. In five years from 1870 to 1874 Mr. Balkwill had 

 196'94 inches; Navigation School, 171"09, or add 15*11 per cent, to 

 Navigation School; Drake's reservoir, 201*43 inches and 895 rainy 

 days ; Navigation School, 171*09 inches and 865 rainy days. Hence 

 add 17*73 per cent, rain and 3*47 per cent, number of rainy days 

 to Navigation School." 



Sunshine. 



Dr. Merrifield's records of the duration of sunshine begin with 

 the year 1882. We have accordingly nine complete years, with 

 the following results : 



