172 - REPORT— 1876. 



Rejiort on the Rainfall of the British Isles for the years 1875-76, by 

 a Committee consisting of C. Brooke, F.R.S. [Chairman) , J. Y. 

 Bateman, C.E., F.R.S. , Rogers Field, C.E., J. Glaisher, F.R.S. , 

 T. Hawksley, C.E., The Earl of Rosse, F.R.S., J. Smyth, Jun., 

 C.E., C. ToMLiNSON, F.R.S., G. J. Symons [Secretanj) . 



In accordance ■with the resolution of the Association, the Rainfall Committee, 

 originally appointed in the year 1865, now present their final report. 



They gave in the report presented at Bristol in 1875 a condensed account 

 of the contents of their previous reports. 



This year they present the various tables and explanatory remarks upon 

 them which are necessary to complete the work up to the i)resent time, ex- 

 cepting that referred to in the 7th following paragraph. 



The tables are as follows, namely : — 



I. Examination of Eain-Gauges. 



II. Eainfall of the years 1874-5. 



III. Monthly returns from new Irish stations. 



Examination of Kain-Gavges in situ. — Appended to this report are the 

 results of the examination of 2(j rain-gauges visited since August 1875. 

 This brings the entire number which have been visited and examined up 

 to (J55. The Committee regard this as a very important subject, and the 

 best guarantee of the records furnished by the observers. They have more 

 than once expressed their conviction that the proper course would have 

 been to appoint a travelling inspector, so that the whole of the gauges might 

 be properly examined ; but they have never had adequate funds for the pur- 

 pose. In fact, the total amount they had been able to devote to it in the 15 

 years during which the inspections have been going on has only been =£210, 

 or an average of exactly ,£14 a year. The explanation of the smallness of the 

 amount in comparison with the work effected (about Gs. 5(7. x^er station visited) 

 arises from the fact that it has been almost entirely done by our Secretary, 

 who, as a member of the Association, received nothing for his services but 

 mcrelj'- repayment of actual expenses, and even these have been materially 

 reduced by the hospitality of the observers. 



Ilainfail of the years 1874-5. — The usual biennial tables of monthly rain- 

 fall at selected stations arc appended. Ever since their apjiointment the Com- 

 mittee have continued these biennial tables, and as IMr. Symons had submit- 

 ted similar ones for some years previous to their appointment, the entire series 

 embraces 16 consecutive years. Subject only to changes rendered necessary 

 by the removal or death of obsei-vers, the same stations have been quoted in 

 each biennial table, and thus these tables contain about 200 perfect records, 

 each extending over 16 consecutive j-ears. Only those persons who are aware 

 of the great importance of continuity in physical researches will fully realize 

 the value of this series, both for physical and hydrological purposes. 



The Rainfall of 1874 was slightly below the average, owing to a rather 

 dry spring and exceedingly dry summer. The most remarkable feature of 

 the year was the heavy fall of rain on October 6th, when the average fall 

 over England and Wales was slightly above 1 inch in the 24 hours, and the 

 fall at many stations in North Wales and the Lake District was iipwards of 

 5 inches. So heavy a fall over so large an area is a very rare occurrence. 



The Rainfall of 1875 was greatly above the average in England (especially 

 in the Midland Counties), and irregular in Scotland and Ireland. A very 

 heavy rainfall occurz-ed in Wales and the southern parts of England on July 



