INTRODUCTION. 



XXXIII 



TAI'.l.i: III CoMlimi.-.l. 



The most remarkable years, it will be seen, were 1832 and 1843, in the former of which the 

 precipitation took place during only 99 hours, or 106 hours less than the average ; and in the 

 latter, the 174^ hours in excess of the annual mean were distributed through every month of the 

 year. 



The only other observations made prior to our arrival, and that are known to have been pub- 

 lished, may be found in the " Repertorio Chileno, ano de 1835," printed at Santiago, and in 

 the " Anales de la Universidad," published at the same city. The former embraces records of 

 observations of a barometer, thermometer, Saussure's hygrometer, direction and force of the 

 wind and condition of the sky, the register extending from February 15 to May 13, 1835. Al- 

 though the instruments are said to have been compared at Paris, an analysis of the individual 

 results inspires too little confidence to warrant their use as comparative data. The editor of 

 the volume tells us, however, that, from the commencement of spring to the middle of autumn, 

 from Copiapo to Talca, the air is perfectly dry, it being rare that any others than light rains 

 fall in any year ; that the rainy season sets in regularly about the end of April and continues 

 until the middle of September; and that in the province of Coquimbo it only rains two or three 

 times in the year for a few hours at a time, whilst in Aconcagua, Santiago, and Colchagua, two, 

 three, or four consecutive days of rain are followed by twelve, fifteen, or twenty of clear 

 weather; and so on, progressively increasing to the extremity of Chiloe, where rain falls all the 

 year, and for entire months at a time. 



Since the return of the Astronomical Expedition from Chile, the subject of meteorology has 

 become one of exciting interest, and there are now intelligent and constant observers who are 

 supplied with instruments at Port Bulnes, in the straits of Magellan, Valdivia, Concepcion, 

 Valparaiso, Santiago, and Serena, besides a corps at different points from Copiapo to Ancud, 

 who devote themselves especially to earthquake phenomena. Already returns have been re- 

 ceived by the University from several of the stations, and the meteorological student will find 

 them in the volumes for 1854-1855, which have been published by that establishment. 



The observations in the " Anales" above mentioned were for the year 1849; and having 

 been made by Professor Domeyko, with approved instruments and great care, they merit every 

 consideration. A summary of the results is therefore inserted here, the reader being referred 

 for details to the volume for 1851, pages 222, 223. 

 V A 



