474 REPORT—1868. 
° 
D 
The curve may be assumed to be parabolic, in which case oT is constant, 
and the vertex of the parabola is found at 1463 feet, and the average of rain 
at that elevation is 132:1. The average quantity of rain at two stations on 
opposite sides of the mountains having the same elevation, =132-1—r D*, r 
being a coefficient determined from the observations. On the eastern side 
of the mountain, r (very irregular) is found=-0000126, but on the western 
side :000055. 
If we now turn our attention to the Skiddaw group of mountains, the 
results are very different, the quantities of rain registered there being reduced 
to about half, viz. 55 inches on Skiddaw, at 1677 feet elevation ; 57 inches 
on Derwent Island, 240 feet; and 59 inches at Keswick, 270 feet. Nor is 
the case very different about Helvellyn, where Birkside, 1800 feet, receives 
81 inches, and Wythburn, 574 feet, 90 inches. Similar effects about Kirk- 
stone Pass, 1500 feet, 82 inches; Matterdale, 1400 feet, 80 inches; and 
Patterdale, 500 feet, 75 inches. In all these cases, the interior Lake moun- 
tains, though of nearly the same height as Scawfell, exercise no such remark- 
able effect on the quantity and distribution of rain ; the reason being that 
they do not receive the first brunt of the moist south-west wind. 
On the other hand, groups of mountains removed from Scawfell, which 
front the south-west, exhibit similar if not equal effects. Thus, to the in- 
fluence of the group of mountains about the Old Man may be ascribed the 
large deposit of rain about Esthwaite Lake (80), Coniston Water-head (100), 
and Langdale (111); and the long range of the Fells, north of Kendal, is 
probably the cause of the heavy rain in Mardale (108 inches) and West Sled- 
dale (113 inches). Another centre of rain-dispersion may be indicated in 
Hougill Fells and Wharnside, on the eastern side of the Lake district ; but 
no sufticient observations are on record for these districts. The axis of most 
rain may be drawn along the main summit of drainage from Scawfell by 
Fairfield toward Hougill Fell; rudely parallel to it, and turning round it on 
the east and on the west, are curves of equal rain—80, 55, and 45 inches, 
the latter moderate quantity being succeeded on the eastward by 40, 30, 25, 
and 20 inches, the minimum being on the Yorkshire coast, where the far- 
ravelled rain-clouds have lost much of their valuable burden. (See Map, 
fig. 2.) 
Fig. 2. 
S 
Rydatwate; 
Ei Hor Water 
5S 
