OX THE RAINFALL OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 201 



Carnarvon (who really did most of the work), we now have returns from more 

 than thirty tested gauges in that district, at elevations varying from 15 feet 

 to 1100 feet. Simultaneously with the establishment of these, the Cumber- 

 land gauges have been reestablished by Mr. Isaac Fletcher, F.ll.S. ; so that we 

 now have for the first time full records from both districts. At present 

 the Welsh records are far below the Cumberland ones ; whether this is due to 

 the fact that the wet places in Snowdonia have yet to be found, or whether 

 the deficiency is due to the Cumberland gauges lying near the track of the 

 centres of British cyclones, or to some other cause, has yet to be determined. 



3. What remains to be done. — On this point it is not so easy to speak 

 clearly and decisively as on the preceding ones, because every one knows 

 that just as an investigation progresses so do new branches claim attention. 

 Some of the leading items may, however, be easily specified. In the first 

 place, the collection of old observations must be rendered as complete as 

 possible, by diligent search at the British Museum, in the libraries of the 

 various scientific societies, and elsewhere. As an illustration of the meaning 

 of that simple word " elsewhere," I may mention that on the day I was 

 writing this Keport I received a note from the Secretary to the Board of 

 Northern Lights, respecting the rain-records kept at their lighthouses, with 

 copies of the current returns of which I have been favoured during the past 

 three years. From this note I find that the returns have been kept ever 

 since 1813, but that they have never been tabulated or discussed. As far as 

 I can at present tell, there seems to be about fifty years' records of twenty- 

 five stations ( = 1250 yearly records) to copy out. This T have ordered to be 

 done ; but of course the expense will fall upon me. This however, is, only 

 quoted as a specimen of the work to be done in collecting. After it, will 

 come the discussion, which will also occupy a considerable time. The current 

 returns for each year have of course to be examined and prepared for publi- 

 cation at its close (this takes two persons six weeks). About 900 gauges 

 remain to be visited ; and this involves perhaps 10,000 miles' travelling, much 

 of which must be on foot, and all of which involves a heavy expenditure of 

 time and money. I need not dwell on the testing of new gauges, since the 

 time so occupied is comparatively trivial. A more serious item will be the 

 analysis and discussion of the experimental-gauge records of Col. Ward and 

 Mr. Bates, and the mountain gauges of Mr. Fletcher and Capt. Mathew. I 

 have been already much helped by volunteer labour ; perhaps some careful 

 person, who does not mind voluminous work, will relieve me of one or other 

 of these discussions. 



In drawing this section of my report to a close, I may just mention a few 

 other matters I have in hand : — The construction of a cheap and accurate 

 gauge for ordinary use : the one here shown is the last improvement and 

 most compact I have seen ; and the maker, Mr. Apps, of 433, Strand, under- 

 takes to supply them at 10s. M. each ; so I hope no one will say they use a 

 home-made gauge because the opticians charge so much. Mr. Apps is also 

 making a self-recording gauge, to show the exact duration and intensity of 

 each shower. The Kev. J. Chadwick Bates has at Castleton Moor started a 

 thcrmo-rain-gauge for ascertaining the temperature of falling rain, on which 

 the variation according to elevation is supposed to depend. Then I have on 

 hand some experiments suggested by Mr. Smith, of Jersey, for measuring, by 

 nitrate of silver, the percentage of sea spray mingled with rain-water at 

 West-country stations. 



I close this programme of work to be done, trusting that I have shown 

 that far more remains to be done than I have yet accomplished, and that, if 

 I am only efficiently supported, important points may be cleared up. Into 



