TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 27 



for the quantities at the different angles ; while the former-mentioned 

 averages at the N.E. and S. W. angles are nearly as one to one and a half. 

 4. The connexion between the direction of the wind and these effects 

 is easily made out ; but without an anemometer this is not possible for 

 that of the force. " I have found, however," observes the author, 

 " in the case of the N.E. wind, which most frequently attends our 

 greatest rains, considerable differences, even Avith a moderate wind 

 amounting, for example, as high as a ratio of one and a half to one. 

 Having seen that I could not hope for accurate results by these ar- 

 rangements, I next tried the effect of elevating the gauge upon a high 

 pole, as was done by Professor Phillips and Mr. Gray with the gauge 

 on the top of York Minster. The differences that appeared in this case 

 were very trifling indeed : thus, on the 26th of August, when the N.E. 

 and S.W. gauges upon the parapet wall gave quantities in the ratio of 

 1 to 1*68, those six feet above the parapet gave 1 to 1*08 ; with a more 

 moderate wind the quanties were more nearly the same." 



The author proposes to resume this inquiry with reference to the ge- 

 neral question on his return to America. (See Reports of the Asso- 

 ciation, Vols. II. III. IV. for the researches conducted dui:ing three years 

 at York.) 



On the Variations in the Quantity of Rain lohich falls in different 

 Parts of the Earth. By William Smith, LL.D. 



Effects so very local, as shown by rain-gauges, at short distances 

 apart in our own island, must arise. Dr. Smith imagines, from local 

 causes. The general remark, that much less rain falls on the eastern 

 than on the western side of England, stands confirmed by the tables ; 

 and as at Edinburgh there fall only 22 inches, and in Dublin 22*2, it 

 seems likely to hold in other parts. The local variations in the qusm- 

 tities of rain in England are, however, very great ; and in a short table 

 of sixteen local averages, from 67 inches at Keswick, down to 22*7 

 at South Lambeth, the half of them on the western side of England 

 are by far the highest ; but the comparatively small quantities of rain 

 at Bristol and Chatsworth not according with this generalization, and one 

 place on the eastern coast being even higher than these, and higher than 

 Liverpool, this generalization. Dr. Smith conceived, required to be 

 modified. More local causes seemed requisite to account for the ob- 

 served facts ; and Dr. Smith imagined that they are to be found in the 

 nature of the surrounding country, that is, in the physical differences of 

 the vicinity of each place, and not altogether in the track of the most 

 rainy winds. 



In confirmation of this opinion, meteorological registers were quoted 

 to show that, although westerly and southerly winds blow at London 

 101 days more than the drier easterly or northerly winds, yet London 

 is the least rainy place in Britain, except Edinburgh, which averages 

 seven tenths lower than South Lambeth. The cause of much rain de- 

 pends not, therefore, he conceived, wholly on the prevalence of westerly 



