ON THE METEOROLOGY OF IRELAND. 321 



5. The periodical winds prevailing during certain seasons, and 

 their modifications, from geographical position or local causes. 



6. The course and rate of progress of atmospheric waves. 



Concurrently with the meteorological observations, it was de- 

 termined to institute an extended series of observations on the 

 phenomena and laws of the tides around the coasts of Ireland, the 

 results of which will be laid before the Academy by Mr. Haughton. 

 The observations of the former class having been intrusted by the 

 Council to my care, for reduction and discussion, I now proceed 

 to lay before the Academy their principal results. It will be 

 necessary, however, in the first instance to describe the plan of 

 observation itself. 



Stations. The meteorological stations are : 



1. The Coast-guard stations at Portrush, Buncrana, Donaghadee, 

 Courtown, Dunmore East, Castletownsend, Cahirciveen, and Kil- 

 rush ; and, for observations of sea temperature only, those of 

 Cushendall and Bunown. At all of these the observations were 

 taken, with the permission of the Lords of the Treasury and of the 

 Comptroller-General, by the boatmen belonging to the Coast-guard 

 Service, the individuals having been specially selected for the duty 

 by the inspecting officers, and having been instructed in the mode 

 of observing by members of the Council of the Academy. 



2. The Light-houses at Killough, Inishgort, and Killybegs, 

 where, with permission of the Ballast Board, the observations were 

 made by the light-keepers, instructed as before. 



3. The Astronomical Observatories of Armagh and Markree, 

 where the observations were taken by the Observatory assistants, 

 with the permission of Dr. Robinson and Mr. Cooper ; the Magne- 

 tical Observatory of Dublin, where they were made with the per- 

 mission of the Board of Trinity College ; and the stations at 

 Portarlington and Athy, at which they were undertaken by Dr. 

 Hanlon and Alfred Haughton, Esq. 



In addition to these, the Academy has received observations, 

 made upon the prescribed plan, from the Eoyal Observatory of 

 Dublin, and from the Queen's Colleges at Belfast and Galway, 

 which could not conveniently be included in the following discus- 

 sions, not having extended over the whole of the period discussed. 

 The observations at the Royal Observatory, and at the Queen's 

 College, Belfast, commenced in April 1851, and have been 



