ON THE RAINFALL OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 95 



only difFerod 5-8 per ccut., the largest quantity being recorded by those 

 gauges which "were most easily managed, viz. those 5, 6, and 8 inches in 

 diameter, and that at Strathfield Turgiss they agreed still more closely, all 

 but the 1-inch and 24-inch agreeing within 1'5 per cent. ; (4) the Report 

 also contains the results of the visitation of 54 rain-gauge stations. 



In the autumn of 1869 our Secretary visited aud examined every rain- 

 gauge station in Cornwall, and also those in the Scilly Isles, and thirty-two 

 of the Devonshire stations, besides personally starting several new ones on 

 Dartmoor. 



The 1870 Report deals first with the establishment of thirty new stations 

 provided with instruments by this Association, then proceeds to notice the 

 above-mentioned extensive examination tour, 97 stations being reported upon. 

 This is followed by a brief history of experimental determinations of the de- 

 crease of rainfall with height, and a detailed description and thorough ana- 

 lysis of the monthly results obtained at Calne. The Report also contains the 

 biannual tables for 1868-69. 



The 1871 Report calls prominent attention to the necessity which exists 

 for systematic inspection of stations. It then gives a specimen of forms 

 which were issued to all observers, requesting particulars of the position and 

 surrounding objects of their gauges. After brief notes upon the establish- 

 ment of some new stations in North Derbyshire, and upon the results of some 

 experiments with " Isolated level " or " pit " rain-gauges, the Report pro- 

 ceeds to notice the results of the discussion of aU British rainfall registers 

 which were absolutely continuous from January 1st, 1860 to December 31st, 

 1869 — (1) with reference to their bearing on the question of the existence 

 or otherwise of secular variation of rainfall in the British Isles, and (2) as 

 data indicative of the distribution of rain over the country. 



The 1872 Report explains the steps taken in consequence of the strong 

 representations made to your Committee at Edinburgh respecting tlie neces- 

 sity for additional stations in the Highlands, viz. the establishment of ten 

 stations principally on the west coast, through the cooperation of the Secre- 

 tary of the Scottish Meteorological Society, and of about thirty along the 

 Highland and Dingwall and Skye railways, through the kindness of the 

 Directors of those companies. 



It announces the presentation by this Committee to the Scottish Meteoro- 

 logical Society of a set of standard measures for the complete verification of 

 rain-gauges, together with the necessary note-books, the understanding being 

 that the Secretary of that Society shall from time to time communicate to this 

 Committee the results obtained by its employment. It concludes with a dis- 

 cussion of the rainfall of the years 1870-71, and the usual biannual tables. 



The 1873 Report calls attention to the existence of many districts where 

 additional stations are necessary, but suggests the postponement of any 

 special effort towards their supply until the revised edition of the list of 

 stations published in the Report of this Association for 1865 is completed. 

 The original list has, mainly in consequence of the development of the work 

 under the auspices of the Committee, become obsolete, as it does not contain 

 more than two thirds of the data now collected. The new list will contain 

 notes of all records known at the date of publication, and will be extremely 

 valuable to future inquirers. The Report proceeds to state the result of the 

 issue of the Position Inquiry forms mentioned in the 1S71 Report, upwards 



