ON THE RAINFALL IN THE BRITISH ISLES. " 283 



Taking, as we may, the total number of additional stations at 300, it does 

 not seem expedient to give yet a list of them, but rather subsequently to issue 

 a supplement to the list in the last Report, or perhaps a completed reprint. 



Extraction and Classification of published Records. — We regret to say that 

 absolutely nothing has been done in searching the Library of the Biitish Mu- 

 seum during the past year. Eecords once there being safe, it has been judged 

 more expedient to secure those from other quarters, where their safe custody 

 is always uncertain ; the observers die, and the records are too often destroyed. 



Examination of Rain-gauges. — Ever since Mr. Symous's rainfall investiga- 

 tions were commenced, he has made it a principal aim to visit as many as 

 possible of the gauges actually at work, and by conversation with the ob- 

 servers, and by examination of the accuracy of their gauges and the suitability 

 of theii- position, to secure at once stronger personal intei-est in the work, 

 and greater uniformity and accuracy in the mode of carrying it on. It is 

 therefore with much pleasure that the details of 166 such visits are annexed 

 to this Eeport, di'awn up, it is hoped, in such a manner as to afford a good 

 general idea of the position of the gauges, and absolute knowledge of the 

 degree of accuracy of each gauge at different points of its scale. Without 

 entering at present on a minute analysis of the results of these examinations, 

 it may be affiimed that they are on the whole immensely beneficial. As a 

 rule, the gauges are found to be in error less than two per cent. ; and though 

 now and then he comes upon gauges which are a disgrace to those who made 

 them, these cases are altogether exceptional. A more frequent source of error 

 is the proximity of trees and tall plants ; it cannot be too strongly impressed 

 on observers, that they must keep a clear open space round their gauges. 



Inclined and Tijjping Funnelled Gauges. — At the last Meeting of this 

 Association it was suggested by Mr. Varley and Prof. Phillips that we should 

 ascertain the indications of a gauge whose mouth instead of being horizontal 

 should be inclined, and kept face to wind by a vane. We are happy to be 

 able to announce that Mr. Chrimes of Eotherham has erected, and regularly 

 observed, a most exhaustive set of instruments for the investigation of this 

 question. They are erected on a piece of exposed high land in the subiu-bs 

 of Eotherham, and the gauges are read daily and 5 monthly. 



The instruments are — 



1. A gauge similar to one employed many years ago by Prof. Phillips, 

 having one horizontal and four vertical funnels, facing E., W., N., and S. 

 Of course if the rain is absolutely vertical it will only enter the horizontal 

 funnel ; if coming absolutely horizontal, and from, say, due east, it wUl only 

 enter the funnel facing east ; if at any intermediate angle, it will partly fall 

 into two or three funnels, each being provided with separate pipes and taps ; 

 the quantity caught by each is known, and the angle and point whence the 

 rain fell can be easily calculated. 



2 to 5. Four gauges revolving by vanes, and having their funnels tilted 

 towards the wind at angles of 22^°, 45°, 67|°, and 90°. 



6. A gauge similar to the above, except that the tUt of the gauge is not 

 fixed, but, being supplied with levers, &c., varies with the pressure of the wind. 

 In a dead calm the funnel is horizontal, and in a gale it will, it is hoped, be 

 tilted to an angle of 70° or 80°. It should thus be always at right angles to 

 the wind, and catch more than any other gauge in windy weather. 



7. A Eobinson's anemometer, to give the horizontal motion of the air. 



8. A set of gauges at different elevations— 10 feet, 15 feet, 20 feet, and 

 25 feet above the ground ; two at each height, one for daily and one for 

 monthly measurements. These, and also the above-mentioned gauges, are 

 all 5 inches diameter. 



