ON THE RAINFALL IN THE BRITISH ISLES. 367 



timfe and expense necessary to reproduce the unit with great care, is to pro- 

 euro a given length and weight of the gold-silver alloy, such as shall havo 

 been found equal to the unit adopted. The quantity required being very 

 nearly 0-5995 of a metre of a wire, one metre in length of which would weigh 

 a gramme for the British Association imit. 



On the Fall of Rain in the British Isles during the Years 1862 

 nnd 1863. By G. J. Symons, M.B.M.S. 



The resolution of the General Committee of this Association having involved 

 two branches of progress in the collection of rainfall statistics, it appears best 

 to notice separately what has been done in each. 



To take iirst the grant for additional rain-gauges and its appropriation. 

 The whole of the existing stations contributing to the tables of rainfall pub- 

 lished in the British Association Eeport for 1862, together with aU additional 

 stations subsequently obtained, were laid down on blank maps, a list was 

 then made of the localities where new stations were most urgently required, 

 and this list was forwarded (with the following letter) to " The Times." 



To the Editor of Tlie Times. 



SiE, — I have on several occasions been indebted to your courtesy for the 

 rapid circulation of particulars of rainfall ; may I anticipate your assistance 

 in obtaining a few recniits in rather out-of-the-way districts, some of which 

 can hardly be reached save by " The Times ?" 



Those of your readers who take an interest in the subject are mostly aware 

 that the collection of statistics of rainfall which I commenced a few years since, 

 has extended so much, that there are now nearly 700 stations contributing 

 theii' observations to a common centre, and receiving in return copies of those 

 made at aU the others. They will, therefore, probably be at first surprised 

 to find that the object of this letter is to obtain more stations, and will re- 

 quire some information before they see the necessity that exists for their 

 establishment. The fact is, that although there are now probably as many 

 stations at work as are necessary for most piu-poses, they are not uniformly 

 distributed throughout the United Kingdom ; and as it is impossible to expect 

 a gentleman to change his residence because his observations would be more 

 valuable elsewhere, it is obvious that the only plan is to start fresh gauges 

 in the districts where observations are required. 



This proposal has been endorsed by the British Association, and funds have 

 been placed at my disposal " for the purpose of constructing and transmitting 

 rain-gauges to districts where observations are not at present made." 



My first request is, that any persons who regularly observe the faU of rain, 

 and have not yet communicated with me, will do so at once, as otherwise I 

 might be starting gauges unnecessarily close to them. My second request is 

 that persons residing in or near any of the imdermentioned towns or districts, 

 having an available open space, and mUiug to take charge of a very simple 

 gauge, will notify their consent to me. It will save much correspondence if 



