286 Mr. J. H. N. Hennessey on [Apr. 16, 



It will be observed that the diagrams of the separate words, although 

 they become modified when grouped together, are more or less discern- 

 ible in the lines continuously spoken ; and the similarity of sound at the 

 termination of the first three lines, which constitutes the rhyme of the 

 verse, is represented in the similarity of form, or in the character of the 

 form, of the terminations of the diagrams of these three lines. 



The subject might be pursued much further by showing the diagrams 

 of the same words spoken by different individuals, the outlines produced 

 by the words and sentences of other languages, the effect produced by 

 change of accent, &c. 



My object, however, has not been to pursue the subject into minute 

 detail, but to show that the articulation of the human voice is accom- 

 panied by definite pneumatic actions, and that those actions, many of 

 which are insensible to ordinary observation, are capable of being 

 recorded. 



II. " Note on the Periodicity of Rainfall." By J. H. N. HENNESSEY, 

 Esq., E.R.A.S. Communicated by Prof. G. G. STOKES, 

 Sec.R.S. Received February 24, 1874. 



1. Interested in the inquiry proposed by Mr. Meldrum, as to whether 

 rainfall varies with the sun-spot area, I examined the register kept at the 

 office of the Superintendent of the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India, 

 and am enabled, through the courtesy of Colonel J. T. Walker, R.E., to 

 communicate the results. These are probably not devoid of peculiar 

 interest, from the abnormal conditions presented by the stations of 

 observation, which are far inland, and on, or adjoining, lofty mountains, 

 as appears from the following brief descriptions. 



2. Mussoorie station is on the southernmost range of the Himalaya 

 Mountains, lat. N. 30 28', long. E. 78 7', height 6500 feet ; this range 

 rises suddenly and forms the northern boundary of the Dehra Doon (or 

 Dehra valley), which is some 18 miles wide and 40 miles long, and is 

 bounded to the south by the Sewalik range of hills, about 3500 feet high. 

 Dehra station is 2200 feet high, 10 miles south 6f Mussoorie station, and 

 in the Dehra valley. 



3. Owing to the absence of the observers in the winter months from 

 Mussoorie station, the rainfall is not recorded there during that period ; 

 this, however, is of little consequence to the inquiry in hand, for the total 

 annual fall occurs almost entirely in June, July, and August. I 

 accordingly give in Table I. the total fall at Mussoorie between 

 May 1 and October 31 of each year ; and in order to make these totals 

 comparable at the two stations, if desired, the fall for January, February, 

 March, April, November, and December is excluded from the Dehra 

 totals ; this quantity excluded may be set down at some 6 inches, or only 



