334 



NATURE 



{August 16, 1877 



a case the same physical cause producing a maximum of 

 rainfall at a northern station, at the same time as a 

 minimum at a southern station. This is merely a sugges- 

 tion to show the caution which may be necessary before 

 we accept without qualification any fixed rule as to the 

 similar actions of the same physical cause at Madras, 

 Calcutta, and Bombay. 



It may be asked to what extent the Trevandrum series 

 of observations confirms the results given in NATURE 

 (vol. xvi. p. 252) for Madras and Bombay, relatively to 

 the ten-yearly period. I may point out that the Trevan- 

 drum series comprises only three and a half cycles, too few 

 for any very satisfactory conclusion. It is easy, however, 

 to inquire to what extent the Madras and Trevandrum 

 series agree during the time we have observations from 

 both (183S-1876). Should they give the same result for 

 these thirty-eight years, whatever that result may be, we 

 may fairly conclude as to the probability of Trevandrum 

 giving generally the same result as Madras. 



An examination of the yearly rainfalls at the two 

 stations during this period shows in a very niarked way a 

 cycle of about five years, or a double oscillation in the 

 decennial period ; and this for seven successive oscilla- 

 tions. I have in consequence sought the equations of 

 sines giving the most probable representation of the 

 mean oscillations (single and double) for the ten and a 

 half year period at the two stations from the thirty-eight 

 years' observations ; these arc as follow, l^y) being the 

 yearly rainfall in inches : — 



Madras ... 7 =: 5^4 sin (9 + 50°) + 4'5 sin (2 9 + 252°), 

 Trevandrum y = ^-b sin (9 — 17°) + 8-4 sin (2 9 -h 259°). 



While the series are too short for any certain conclusions 

 yet the general agreement of the equations for the two 

 places is quite distinct.' 



What I desire especially to point out is 'CixtX'ixgt double 

 oscillation in the ten and a half year cycle ; at Trevandrum 

 (where there ate iwo monsoons) the mean range amounts 

 to i6'8 inches ; it is only 9'2 inches at Madras ; but the 

 epochs of maximum and minimum are very nearly the 

 same at both stations as shown by the angles 252° and 

 259°. Also these angles give the epochs of niininiuin 

 rainfall both in the years of minimum and of maximum 

 sun-spots. 



It is not my intention to seek an explanation of this 

 result, especially (though well shown seven times in suc- 

 cession) since it requires more extensive investigation, like 

 that for ten and a half years, before any considerable 

 weight can be given to it ; I have thought it desirable, 

 however, to bring this oscillation to the notice of investi- 

 gators. The object of men of science is not to prove or 

 disprove a case but to ascertain the truth. We are only 

 groping at present in the darkness, yet it is not merely 

 possible but probable that results of great practical im- 

 portance may be derived from a conjoint study of terres- 

 trial and solar physics, though they may not be the 

 precise results which were expected or, it may be, desired. 

 I shall endeavour at another time to give reasons for 

 believing this. 



Putting aside all that has hitherto been considered 

 glorious to a nation in advancing science for its own 

 sake ; if we remember the vast human suffering that may 

 be alleviated hereafter by encouraging now the study of 

 solar actions as observed on the sun's surface, and as felt 

 on our globe by the trembling magnet, the heaving air, 

 and, it may be, the falling rain, there will I think be few, 

 who know a tithe of what science has already done for 

 humanity, who will not join in the demand for the small 

 sum required from the nation's resources for so great an 

 end. John Allan Broun 



' The preceding equations cannot be compared with those for Madras and 

 Bombay (Nature, vol. xvi. p. 252), since here 0=0, for 1838-5, so that the 

 term for the single oscillation does not agree with, that found previously 

 front the longer series at Madras. 



NOTES 



The Lavoisier medal of the French Society for the Encourage- 

 ment of Industry has been awarded for the present year to Mr. 

 Walter Weldon, for the great progress realized by his manufacture 

 of bleaching powder. This medal is seldom awarded— among 

 the few recipients being Henri St. Claire DeviUe, Henri Giffard, 

 Boussingault, Ferdinand de Lesseps, and Sir Charles Wheatstone. 

 The presentation was made by M. Dumas, who delivered an 

 eloquent address. 



At the next session of the French Association for the Ad- 

 vancement of .Science, the committee appointed on meteorology 

 will propose to memorialize the Cabinet to create a Meteor- 

 ological Institute, in which will be centralized all the meteor- 

 ological institutions of France, thus severing the connection 

 between them and the Paris Observatory. 



The number of stations of the French Agricultural Meteo- 

 rological Service was 1,149 on July I. All the departments 

 except five, the poorest and the least educated, are possessed of 

 stations. The service was inaugurated last August. Not more 

 than 3, 6oo French communes are said to have telegraphic sta- 

 tions, so that the third part of the communes in a position to 

 enjoy daily telegrams have availed thetnselves of the opportimity 

 in less than one year. The French Agricultural and Marine 

 Meteorological Service has a very limited credit, not more than 

 30,000 francs. 



In the royal castle at Niirnberg the well-known Ilimilayan 

 traveller Hermann v. Schlagintweit-Sakiinliinski is exhibiting 

 the large collection made by himself and his two brothers Adolf 

 and Robert during their travels in India and High Asia. 



The proposal to found a popular Astronomical Institute at 

 Hamburg, advocated by the optician Dr. Hugo Schroder, has 

 been received with general favour. Indeed the project has so far 

 exceeded the original proposal as to include a zoological garden, 

 an aquarium, and, in fact, a great institute for the spread of 

 scientific knowledge. Popular lectures will be given at the 

 institute, which will be furnished with a refractor costing 188,000 

 marks, a^dozen of the best microscopes, a model of the world, 

 planetaria, &c. The first cost is estimated at 600,000 marks. 



A PROPOSITION has been'made by influential members of the 

 Municipal Council of Paris to establish a regular course of lec- 

 tures on astronomy at the Montsouris Observatory. There has 

 been no public lectureships on astronomy at Paris since Arago 

 died, except at the Sorbonne and College de France, but none 

 of these lectures are for beginners. 



Two living specimens of the Colorado beetle were found in 

 Liverpool docks last week ; one was taken on Wednesday on 

 board the Spanish .S'.^'. Carolina, which arrived about a week 

 previously from New York, brmging sixty head of large cattle 

 from Texas ; and it was supposed to have come in the fodder for 

 the cattle, which consisted of hay and maize. This was stored 

 on deck above the after hatchway close to the saloon, and the 

 beetle was taken crawling up the wall inside the saloon near the 

 ceiling. The weather having been warm the windows had been 

 open, and it could easily find admittance from the adjoining 

 fodder, which was all but exhausted. Some delay took place in 

 getting the ship into dock, and the cattle disembarked in con- 

 sequence of a misunderstanding as to the regulations regarding 

 the importation of cattle, so that about a week elapsed before 

 the ship got into dock ; and by the time she did get in fresh 

 fodder had immediately to be got to supply the cattle. This 

 relieves any anxiety which might otherwise have been felt as to 

 other specimens having been distributed on shore with any sur- 

 plus fodder. The history of the other specimen was not so 

 clearly traced. It, was said to have fallen from a steamer on to 



