ON SUNSPOTS AND RAINFALL. 



247 



The mean rainfall of the cycle is 33'6 inches, and for the years 1855 

 to 1867 it is 33-7 inches. 



45. The next table gives the resnlts obtained by the contrary arrange- 

 ment. From 1848 to 1860 we have the rainfalls of the Cape, Adelaide, 

 and Sydney ; and from 1859 to 1871 the rainfalls of the same three 

 stations, and of Mauritius, Brisbane, and Melbourne. 



Table XXVIII. — Rainfall at three and six stations in Southern Hemi- 

 sphere. — Minimum years in 9th line. 



The minimum rainfall occurs about a year before the epoch of 

 minimum sunspots, and (apparently) the maximum rainfall about the 

 time of maximum sunspots. 



The mean for the cycle is 327 inches, and for the period 1848 to 1871 

 it is 32 - 9 inches. 



46. The next two tables are formed by taking Australia alone for 

 single sunspot periods. 



Table XXIX. — Rainfall at four stations in Australia, from 1865 to 

 1877. — Maximum year in 6th line. 



Considering the fewness of the observations, and the shortness of the 

 period of observation, the results are rather remarkable. The variation 

 is irregular ; yet the maximum and minimum rainfalls occur at or near 

 the epochs of maximum and minimum sunspots. 



