1 64 Report of the Kew Observatory Committee. 



used witli this instrument was received back from the makers on 

 January 11. 



Before restarting the instrument, the Clifton Quadrant Electro- 

 meter was taken entirely to pieces, all parts thoroughly cleaned and 

 dried, and new sulphuric acid put in the inner jar. 



The battery was tested, each row of cells being examined and the 

 voltage determined. 



The electrograph was started on January 19, and has been in con- 

 stant operation since, with the exception of one or two short stoppages 

 due to freezing of the water jet, or other accidental causes. Owing 

 presumably to the changes introduced last year, there has been a 

 great improvement in the behaviour of the apparatus. There are 

 still, however, one or two directions in which further improvement is 

 desirable. 



On September 29, one-third of the cells in the battery were taken 

 off, to make a corresponding contraction in the scale values, which 

 was expedient in view of the high potentials usually recorded during 

 the winter months. 



Notwithstanding this, several hours' record have been lost owing 

 to the trace being off the sheet. It is difficult at present td see how 

 such loss can be avoided, without either duplicating part at least of 

 the apparatus, so as to get two curves, one showing ordinary and the 

 other extraordinary potentials (positive and negative), or else by 

 risking possible loss of negative trace by shifting the position, on 

 the sheet, of the zero line. 



The scale value was determined, by direct comparison with the 

 Portable Electrometer, White, No. 53, on January 19, May 4, and on 

 September 29, before and after the change above referred to. 



The comparisons showed that up to the date of the change the 

 scale value had remained practically constant. 



Inspections. In compliance with the request of the Meteorological 

 Council, the following Observatories and Anemograph Stations have 

 been visited and inspected : Fleetwood, Stonyhurst, Armagh, 

 Dublin, Valencia, Falmouth, and St. Mary's (Scilly Isles), by 

 Mr. Baker; Radcliffe Observatory (Oxford), Yarmouth, North 

 Shields, Alnwick Castle, Fort William, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and 

 Deerness (Orkney), by Mr. Constable. 



III. SOLAR OBSERVATIONS. 



Sun-spots. Sketches of Sun-spots have been made on 165 days, and 

 the groups numbered, after Schwabe's method. 



Particulars will be found in Appendix II, Table IV. 



Taking into consideration the elaborate photographic work now 

 done elsewhere, the Committee consulted the Solar Physics Com- 



