926 REPORT—1885. 
and duration of the cyclones of 1856 and 1857 were much less than those of the 
cyclones of 1860 and 1861; that the number and duration of the cyclones of 1867 
and 1868 were much less than those of 1860 and 1861 on the one hand, and also 
than those of 1871 and 1872 on the other; and that the number and duration of 
the cyclones of 1879 and 1880 were much less than those of the cyclones of 1871, 
1872, and 1884. 
F® It would appear, however, that in 1884 there was less cyclone-activity than in 
1861 and 1872. 
19. A new Wind Vane or Anemoscope, specially designed for the use of 
Meteorologists. By G. M. Wniprte, B.Sc., F.RA.S. 
The author described a modification cf the ordinary wind vane which serves to 
render its indications more certain when read from a distance. 
He permanently attaches the letters N.E.S.W. to the vane and carries them 
round with it. A fixed pointer is suitably placed beside the vane or beneath it, 
and the observer merely looks at the letters and determines the direction of the 
wind from their position with reference to the pointer.’ 
20. On the Third Magnetic Survey of Scotland. 
By Professor T. E. Torre, F.R.8., and A. W. Ricker, F.R.S, 
At the last meeting of the British Association held in Aberdeen, Professor 
Balfour Stewart presented the Report of the Observations made in connection with 
the Magnetic Survey of Scotland in the years 1857 and 1858. This Survey was 
undertaken at the request of the Association by the late Mr. Welsh, of the Kew 
Observatory, and the report is published in the account of the Society’s Proceedings 
for 1859. My. Welsh’s observations constitute the second magnetic survey of 
Scotland, the results of the first survey having been recorded by the late Sir 
Edward Sabine in the ‘ Report of the British Association for 1838.’ 
In a ‘Note on the Irregularities in Magnetic Inclination on the West Coast of 
Scotland,’ published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society for Nov. 15, 1883 
we drew attention to the fact that the present time was very opportune for a new 
magnetic survey of Scotland as part of a general survey of the British Islands. 
‘More than twenty-five years,’ it was remarked, ‘ have elapsed since Mr. Welsh made 
his survey, and this was separated by an interval of twenty-one years from that 
which we owe to the joint labours of Sir Edward Sabine, Sir James Ross, and Mr, 
Fox. The instruments and methods of observation in 1858 were greatly superior 
to those in 1836-7, and hence a new survey, made during the approaching period 
of minimum sun-spot disturbance and on stations selected with careful reference to 
their geological character, would undoubtedly afford far more accurate data as to 
the absolute value of the magnetic elements, and as to the extent of secular change 
in this part of the world, than we at present possess.’ 7 
As the accounts of the previous surveys were published in the Reports of the 
British Association, we may perhaps be allowed to take this opportunity of intima- 
ting to the members that we have during this and the preceding summer made the 
necessary observations for the survey suggested in the above remarks. A determi- 
nation of the magnetic elements, that is of inclination, declination, and force, has 
been made at fifty stations. The great increase in the facilities for travelling 
in Scotland since 1857-8 has placed us at a considerable advantage as compared 
with Mr. Welsh for reaching various places at which observations “were desirable. 
The greater number of the coast stations were visited in a yacht belonging to one of 
us; in this way we were able to observe under more favourable conditions as to 
choice of situation and duration of stay, than if we had been dependent upon the 
ordinary steamboat service. 
The following is a list of the stations :— 
1 For illustration, see Quart. Jl. Roy. Met. Soc. vol. xi. p. 64. 
