ON MAGNETIC OBSERVATIONS AT FALMOUTH OBSERVATORY. 81 
In connection with this work Mr. Kitto spent some time at Kew 
- during the early part of the year. 
Dr. Chree has published ‘An Analysis of the Results of the Falmouth 
Magnetographs on Quiet Days during the twelve years 1891 to 1902’ in 
the ‘ Transactions’ of the Royal Society for 1904 ; this contains a number 
of interesting results, which confirm in a remarkable manner the con- 
sequences deduced from his earlier paper dealing with the Kew curves. 
The Committee regret to learn that the difficulty of the situation has 
caused great delay in the building of the new Observatory at Eskdale 
Muir, which, they are informed, cannot be ready until the end of 1906. 
In view of the importance of maintaining continuity of the magnetic 
records, they ask for reappointment, with a grant of 50/. 
Investigation of the Upper Atmosphere by Means of Kites in co-opera- 
tion with a Committee of the Royal Meteorological Society.—Fourth 
Report of the Committee, consisting of Dr. W. N. Saaw (Chairman), 
Mr. W. H. Dives (Secretary), Mr. D. ArncuisaLp, Mr. C. VERNON 
Boys, Dr. A. Bucuan, Dr. R. T. GLAzesroox, Dr. H. R. Mint, 
Professor A. SCHUSTER, and Dr. W. Watson. 
Tuis Committee acts jointly with a Committee of the Royal Meteoro- 
logical Society. 
Since the last report a brief account of the observations obtained 
from H.M.S. ‘Seahorse’ has been published in the ‘ Quarterly Journal of 
the Royal Meteorological Society,’ but the results have not yet been fully 
worked up. 
Apparatus for testing and calibrating the meteorographs has been 
made by Mr. J. J. Hicks, and consists of an ordinary air-pump with a 
large receiver. Inside the receiver there is a coil of metal tube, through 
which warm water or a freezing-mixture can be circulated ; there is also 
a small electric fan to ensure uniformity of temperature throughout the 
enclosed space. The meteorograph is placed inside, and the pressure and 
temperature altered in any desired way. A record is kept, and is compared 
with the trace obtained from the meteorograph when it is taken out of 
the receiver. Inasmuch as the thermal capacity of the heavy glass 
receiver and metal plate is very considerable, the process of warming or 
cooling the interior is a slow one. A few tests have been made for 
ascertaining the extent to which the temperature correction of the 
barograph is dependent on the pressure, but generally a quicker plan is 
employed for testing the thermograph. The instrument is placed in a 
thin metal case with a water-jacket. The lid is also jacketed, and by 
circulating a liquid through the jacket, and enclosing the whole arrange- 
ment in felt or other non-conducting material, there is no difficulty 
about rapidly bringing the meteorograph to any desired temperature. 
, The pen of the hygrograph moves in accordance with the change of 
length of 4 feet of human hair. The approximate scale is a change of 
length of ‘45 inch from absolute dryness to complete saturation, but a 
more exact determination is now being made by hanging a small weight 
at the end of 4 feet of hair in the open, and taking simultaneous readings 
of its length and of a wet and dry bulb thermometer. 
1905, G 
