234 



BEPORT — 1878. 



above the average in the mean minimum year, yet it was below the 

 average in the previous and two following years, thus forming, on the 

 whole, around the minimum year, as shown in the " mean cycle," a group 

 of four or five years in which the rainfall was below the average ; and 

 the mean rainfall for these years is scarcely affected by the positions 



occupied in the table by the maximum years. It is to be remarked, also, 

 that if a greater number of stations were taken, as in Table III., it would 

 be found that the rainfall in the mean minimum year is below the 

 average ; but it was desirable to adopt Mr. Symons's figures alone, 

 because they furnish independent evidence of a rainfall cycle, even for a 

 small number of stations. 



On the other hand we have, around the mean maximum year in 

 Table III., a group of five or six years in which the rainfall is above the 

 average. 



From these two tables (III. and IV.) it is concluded that there is 

 strong evidence of a rainfall cycle for Great Britain. 



18. I will now compare with the sunspots the rainfall of Edinburgh, 

 as given in the f Journal of the Scottish Meteorological Society.' 



