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SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS 



VOL. yj 



high part of his data, relate to two sun-spot maxima and only one 

 sun-spot minimum, so that they tend to a high level on account of 

 great solar activity. The points for October and November, which 

 are so very intrumental in leading him to his conclusion that winter 

 months would run lower, are brought down by the disproportionate 

 number of very low results of 191 1 and 1913, years of sun-spot^ 

 minimum and little solar activity. 



4. In the next place, our critics have argued, from the steadily 

 decreasing average scatter of the solar constant observations, as we 

 have been getting better and better observing conditions, that if 



Fig. 8. — Simultaneous daily solar-radiation values at Mount Wilson 

 and Calama, Chile. The days not observed simultaneously are omitted 

 and the curves brought together into continuous broken lines. 



we got perfect results no fluctuations would be left. Indeed, accord- 

 ing to them, in recent years there is no room left, after allowing for 

 reasonable error, for any appreciable solar variation. With apologies 

 for being a little playful, I would like to put my reply in the form 

 of a short parable. 



I meet our critic and say, " Have you noticed, Sir, those tall objects 

 in that field ^ " " No," he says, " How tall are they? " '" Why, Sir, 

 I measured them," I reply, " and the measurements are all on this 

 paper." " Let me take it," says he, " and I will look it over and 

 perhaps I will be able to go down and see those objects." 



The next time I meet him, I say, " Well, Sir, have you seen those 

 objects which I mentioned to you the other day? " " No," he answers. 



