Feb. II, 1886] 



NA TURE 



;55 



tlie pliysicnl configuration, the average is less than 30 inches 

 from DoA-er westward as far as the east shores of the Isle of 

 Wight. On proceeding still farther westward, the annual rain- 

 fall slowly but steadily rises, till on rounding Prawle Point in 

 Devonshire it begins to exceed 40 inches, and with this increase 

 of the rainfall there is a still more striking increase of temperature 

 in the winter months. 



The whole of the results arrrived at in this inquiry show con- 

 clusively that the key to the distribution of the rainfall of the 

 British Islands is the direction of the rain-bringing winds in their 

 relation to the physical configuration of the surface. 



Looked at broadly, there are four very distinct causes of rain, 

 viz. (i) the moist .south-westerly winds ; (2) rains, often very 

 heavy rains, from the east, extending but a little way inland ; 



(3) the annual fall of temperature from August to January ; and 



(4) those peculiar influences that have their fullest development 

 in the thunderstorms of summer over low-lying extensive 

 plains. 



The rainfall of the British Islands has been examined with 

 reference to its seasonal distribution in relation to the physical 

 configuration of the surface. The mean amount of each place 

 for the past twenty years has been calculated for the twelve 

 months, these being reduced to thirty days each. The mean 

 of these twelve months being taken, the mean monthly rainfall of 

 the year was then ascertained, and with this latter mean each 

 monthly mean was compared, and its excess, or defect, entered 

 in percentages on t«'elve maps. 



The moist south-westerly winds acquire their maximum anuual 

 predominance in December and January, and as these winds 

 come loaded with the vapour of the Atlantic the rainfall rises 

 above its monthly mean over nearly the whole of .Scotland. Two 

 patches, however, are to a great extent exempt, the-e being the 

 districts lying on the lee side of the greatest stretch of mountain- 

 ous land, viz. to the north-east of the Grampians and to the east 

 of the Mofiat and Lead Hills. Similarly, in England, during 

 these months, the rainfall is considerably above the average 

 over the whole of the dry districts extending from the Tweed 

 southwards, and bounded on the west by the water-partings of 

 the Mersey and the Severn, and on the south by the Thames, 

 including the northern slopes of Kent. 



During the great annual fall of temperature from August to 

 January the greatest excess over the mean monthly rainfall occurs 

 m September and October, when the fall of temperature is most 

 rapid, south-westerly winds very prevalent, and heavy rains with 

 easterly winds, chiefly the easterly winds of cyclones, of most 

 frequent occurrence. In these months the rainfall reaches the 

 annual maximum over large districts in the east of Scotland, and 

 over all but the whole of England. 



In northern and extreme western districts nearly all thunder- 

 storms occur during the winter months, whereas few occur in 

 eastern and central districts at this season ; but nearly all occur 

 in the summer months — a remark which api>lies with greatest 

 force to the more extensive level, or comparatively level, portions 

 of the countiy. Now, from the frequent occurrence of the thunder- 

 storms and thunder-showers, the annual rainfall of these districts 

 approache^ to, -and in not a few cases reaches, the annual maxi- 

 mum in the summer months. The local excess begins to show 

 in June, and is extended in July much more decidedly over the 

 agricultural districts of England and Scotland that are best suited 

 for the ripening of wheat and barley. In August there is shown 

 a still further development and extension of the summer rains 

 over these and adjoining districts. It is to be noted, however, 

 that during this time the rainfall remains under the average over 

 the extreme south-western, southern, and south-eastern districts 

 of England. In these characteristics of the summer rainfall 

 these important agricultural centres resemble the climates of 

 Central Europe, where the rainfall rises to the maximum during 

 the summer months 



The following are the annual amounts of the rainfall, in 

 inches, in certain districts and along certain lines radiating from 

 Glasgow : — Glasgow 40-20, Bresley Hill 37'33, Bothwell Castle 

 29 -98, Dalziel House 30-50, Lanark 35-66, \Viston 45 -33 ; Queen 

 Park 3624, Newton Mearns 52'63, Black Loch 57'6o ; Paisley 

 45.37. Castle Semple 52-10, Blair 53'62, Ardrossan 41 '03; 

 Kilbarchan 57'28, Kilmalcolm 57'28, Greenock 64-25, Overton 

 71-45; New Kilpatrick 48-05, Dumbarton 48-25, Cameron 

 House 62-95, Luss 80-45, Firkin 96-05, and Ardlui 11546. 

 These figures show in a striking manner the extraordinary varia- 

 tions of climates there are in the immediate neighbourhood, or 

 within easy reach, of Glasgow. Quite recently an inquir)' was 



set on foot in Berlin, where numerous rain-gauges were planted 

 with the view of arriving at some clear understanding as to the 

 amount of observational information required in order to state 

 definitely what the actual rainfall of a district is. Might I 

 suggest to the Mathematical and Physical Section of the Philo- 

 sophical Society that a similar investigation be taken in hand, 

 and forty or more rain-gauges be added to those already in use. 

 In a few years not only would they be able to answer the ques- 

 tion proposed by the Berlin meteorologists, but in answering it 

 they would state with satisfactory precision the character and 

 limits of the various local climates which difl'er so widely from 

 each other in the neighbourhood of Glasgow. 



THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM, SYDNEY"- 

 (l) ""PHE Museum has been, during the year 1884, as in 

 previous years, open to the public daily, except on 

 Mondays, when it is necessarily closed for the purpose of clean- 

 ing. The largest attendance on any one day was on December 

 26, when 1643 persons were registered at the doorway. The 

 greatest Sunday attendance was 1315, on April 13. The aver- 

 age daily number of visitors throughout the year was 262 on 

 week-days and 853 on Sundays. The total for the year is 

 126,040. 



(2) The collections are still being increased by means of pur- 

 chases, exchanges, collecting expeditions, and donations. A 

 list of these additions, under their separate heads, will be found in 

 Appendices v., VI,, VII., VIII. Among these maybe specially 

 mentioned several pairs of large antelopes from South Africa, 

 a full-grown ourang-outang of the larger species (Simla szlyrus), 

 and several of the smaller species {S. tnorio) : a fine specimen 

 of the Chimpanzee (Troglodytes nlgcr) ; two whales, one from 

 Kiama (Physcta- maci-jcephalui), and one from the coast of 

 England, belonging to the extremely rare species known as 

 Rudolf's Whale (BaLTiioflcra horca'is) ; casts of gigantic fossil 

 remains from the British Museum, including Elephas gaiwsa. 

 Mastodon andiitm^ Toxodon platensis, Slvatluriiim glganteiim, 

 Megalania prlsca, &c. ; and large and important ethnological 

 collections. 



(3) Great alterations and improvements have been effected by 

 the erection of additional wall-cases, constructed upon the best 

 principles and at considerable cost, for the reception of large 

 collections of skeletons and Australian fossil remains ; and for 

 groups of Birds of Paradise, and other exhibits of great interest 

 from New Guinea and elsewhere. Additional cases and cabinets 

 have been provided for the mineral collections, and others are 

 in course of construction for similar purposes. 



(4) Want of sufficient space in the present building is still 

 felt as a serious drawback to the usefulness of the Museum. The 

 Trustees nevertheless gladly express their obligation to the 

 Government for the provision now made for fuither accommo- 

 dation. An additional shed has been erected, which is used as 

 a store for timber and other material. A large iron workshop 

 has also been provided, and another of similar dimensions is in 

 course of erection. These are to be used for the storage of 

 spirits and bottles, and for workrooms in connection with spirit 

 specimens. 



(5) Catalogues, not only of the various collections in the 

 Museum, but also of all branches of Australian Zoology, are still 

 in course of preparation ; but no new publications have been 

 issued during the past year. 



(6) Mr. Ramsay's visit to Europe in connection with the 

 International Fisheries Exhibition enabled him to examine 

 various Museums, Zoological Stations, and Aquaria, and has 

 been productive of much advantage to this Museum. A report, 

 with particulars of his proceedings and details of his arrange- 

 ments for purchase and exchange of specimens, will be found in 

 Appendix XL 



(7) The exhibits which are sent to the Calcutta Exhibition 

 have been presented by the Trustees to the Government of 

 India. 



(8) The Teaching Collection, consisting of skeletons, models, 

 and specimens illustrative of comparative anatomy and natural 

 history, which for some years past occupied the north room in 

 the upper floor of the Museum, has been transfen-ed to the 

 University. This collection was specially prepared for teaching 

 purposes, and, as most of the specimens were already repre- 

 sented in the Museum, and it occupied space which could be 

 better used for the display of other objects of interest, the 



* Report of ttie Trustees for 1S84. 



