ON THE RAINFALL OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 177 



The other step was to send the following letter to the Secretary of the High- 

 land liailway Company, whose line, as is probably generally known, traverses 

 much of the most thinly inhabited part of Scotland : — 



" 62 Caniden Square, 

 December 7th, 1871. 

 " British Rainfall. 



"Dear Sir, — At the Meeting of the British Association held at Edinburgh 

 last August, it was resolved that steps be taken to obtain observations of the 

 fall of raiu in those parts of Scotland in which they have not hitherto been 

 made ; a grant of money was voted for the construction of the instruments, 

 and I was directed to take such steps as might seem best calculated to secure 

 regular and trustworthy observations. As an indication that this application 

 is for no mere crotchet, I may mention that the Board of N'orthern Light- 

 houses are already assisting all round the coast, and the Scottish Meteorolo- 

 gical Society, the Marquis of Breadalbanc, and others inland. After all our 

 efforts, however, the route traversed by your line is very poorly supplied with 

 observers ; and I have therefore to ask whether 5'ou would cooperate in the 

 matter by instructing certain of your station-masters to make the necessary 

 observations and forward the results monthly. The gauges are similar to 

 (but smaller than) those used by the station-masters on the Manchester, 

 Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway ; they are extremely simjjle, and the ob- 

 servations (which may be made any time between 8.30 and 9.30 a.m.) only 

 occupy about two minutes : I should, of course, provide printed instructions 

 and blank forms. The preliminary arrangements to ascertain exactly where 

 additional observations are required have taken so long that there is now 

 necessity for somewhat prompt action to secure that the instruments shall aU 

 be at their destination a few days before the end of the year. I shall there- 

 fore be glad of a prompt reply, especially as, after receiving it, either I or my 

 colleague Mr. Buchan, of the Scottish Meteorological Society, mil have to 

 send communications to the ' Scotsman ' and other papers. I have only to 

 add that if the Dingwall and Skye line is not under your control, I should be 

 much obliged by a line or telegram stating to whom I should apply, unless, 

 indeed, you could submit the tenour of my views to the authorities of that 

 line, which would be the most rapid course. I enclose sketch of the gauge 

 and instructions, which can be further simplified for the special purpose, and 

 have only to add that, should any further explanation be required, I shall 



inost cheerfully supply it. 



" Yours very truly, 



" A. Dougall, Esq., Inverness:^ " G. J- SrsiONS." 



To this letter the following reply was received : — 



" Highland Railway Company, Inverness, 

 I'ith December, 1871. 



" British Rainfall. 



" Dear Sir, — I have your favour of the 7th instant on the above subject, 

 and beg in reply to state that the Directors of tliis Company will be happy 

 to cooperate in the matter by instructing several of their station-masters to 

 make the necessary observations and to forward the results monthly. This 

 will apply to the Dingwall and Skye line also. 



" I am, yours faithfully, 



" A, Dougall." 



1872. 



