TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 21 
“ The current of vapour is apparently only partially decomposed in passing over a 
flat or even an undulating country; it aims at once for the loftiest heights, passing 
over the less hilly districts with little diminution of its original weight or volume. But 
on reaching the mountain peaks, the sudden change of temperature causes a rapid and 
continuous condensation in the form of vast torrents of rain, whilst comparatively 
little descends on the adjacent plains. 
“« As an instance of the low temperature on our mountain tops, I may mention that 
on making the ascent of Skiddaw, on the 5th of September last year, the thermometer 
on the summit, at noon, stood at 41°; sky overcast, the sun gleaming out at intervals. 
The temperature of a strong spring, about 2 miles from the summit, was also 41°. 
The temperature of the air at the foot of the mountain, at 35 30™ p.m., was 58°. 
“« Snow not unfrequently continues on Sca Fell till the middle or end of June; we 
remember seeing a patch on the 15th of June, 1843; and on the neighbouring moun- 
tains the air was so intensely cold that we think it could not be more than 2°or 3° above 
the point of congelation. That the rapid increment in the fall of rain in approaching 
mountainous districts is owing to the causes above alluded to, and not to the greater 
number of wet days, is evident on an inspection of the table, where it will be found 
that we have as many wet days at Whitehaven near the level of the sea; indeed it 
rarely rains in the lake districts, that the day is not also wet, more or less, at the coast. 
“« And in comparing the number of wet days at various places, we not unfrequently 
find them to obtain in the inverse ratio to the fall of rain; thus, in 1845, they range 
from 195 to 211 in the lake district; but at Manchester, with a fall of 41 inches, they 
amount to 235; at Culloden, with a fall of 27 inches, to 237; but at Kendal, where 
the quantity of rain is 53 inches, the wet days are only 178. 
“ At Carlisle the wet days are the same as in the lake district, where the fall is four 
times as much. 
‘© We are informed by a gentleman recently returned from India, who was many 
years medical attendant to the Rajah of Sattarah, that he seldom measured more 
than 40 inches of rain in the plain, but among the hills 30 miles distant, the annual 
cal reached 350 inches; and as much as 9 inches has been known to fall in 24 
ours. 
“ The utility and beauty of this arrangement is obvious, since the mountain torrents 
afford a continuous supply of water to the lakes and rivers, which otherwise could 
scarcely have an existence, The rivers thus called into being aid the efforts of the 
husbandman by carrying off the superfluous moisture from the plains, which, without 
such a provision, would be in danger of stagnating into pestilence.” 
Readings of Mountain Gauges, June, July and August 1846. 
By J. F. Mitier. 
Feet above Sea. June, July. August, 
inches. inches. inches, 
Whitehaven * ........006 100 2°311 9-061 4:066 
Scilly Banks, near ditto.. 500 27103 8626 | 3-465 
Sea Fell Pike............ Fis 3166 5:000 | 14-380 7°050 
Great Gable ..... a ecreded 2925 7:60 16°870 § 650 
Sparkling Tarn....... ase 1900 6°55 22°730 | 12-030 
Stye Head Pass ...... vee 1250 6°26 17°760 | 11:080 
Valley (Wastdale)... .. oee 160 5°33 16820 | 8-960 
Seatollar (Borrowdale) ... 1850 5°79 18°350 8:150 
Valley (Seathwaite) ...... 300 6:29 22°125 | 10°480 
In March, April and May, the higher gauges received less rain than the lower; in 
June the reverse of this is the case, owing doubtless to the greater elevation of the 
nimbi or rain-clouds in the warmer months, and especially when the air is highly 
charged with electricity, as was the case last month. 
* On the spire of St. James’s Church, eighty feet above the street, 1°680. 
