38. REPORT—1858. 
Note on Refraction. By Colonel James, P.R.S. 
Colonel James, Director of the Ordnance Survey, referred to the results obtained 
in the course of the trigonometrical operations of the survey. It was found that the 
refraction of the atmosphere was very great in the morning, that it diminished 
towards the middle of the day, and then again gradually increased towards evening ; 
this he attributes to the greater amount of aqueous vapour in the lower portion of 
the atmosphere in the morning and evening, as compared with the amount in the 
middle of the day. 
On the Daily Comparison of an Aneroid Barometer with a Board of Trade 
Barometer by Captains of Ships at Sea. By Dr. Ler. 
The author submitted tables of considerable length detailing the results that had 
been obtained during a voyage from London to Madras and back again, and the 
conclusions he made were as follow :—That aneroid barometers, if often compared 
with good mercurial columns, were similar in their indications, and valuable; but at 
the same time it ought to be remembered that they were not independent instru-. 
ments; that they were set originally by a barometer; required adjustment occasions 
ally; and might deteriorate in time, though slowly. The aneroid was quick in 
showing the variation of atmospheric pressure, and to the navigator (who knew at 
times the difficulty of using barometers) this instrument was a great boon, for it 
could be placed anywhere out of harm’s way, and was not affected by the ship’s 
motion, although faithfully giving indication of increased or diminished pressure of 
air. The aneroid, which is exhibited, had been carefully and daily observed by Cap- 
tain Toynbee, of the ‘ Gloriana,’ during his recent voyage to Madras. 
On the Construction of a Portable Self-registering Anemometer for recording 
the direction and amount of Horizontal Motion of the Air. By F. 
Oster, F.RS. 
In this instrument the direction of the wind is obtained by fans, similar in prin- 
ciple to those at the back of a windmill, as in some anemometers now in use, and 
the horizontal motion by Dr. Robinson’s revolving hemispherical cups. The mode 
of registration, however, is such as to enable the instrument to be constructed much 
more compactly than heretofore. The direction of the wind is recorded by means of 
three pencils inserted in an endless band, or flat chain working over two pulleys of 
equal size, one of which is on the same shaft as the vane, and revolves with it; the 
distance between the centres of the pulleys, and also between the pencils, being equal 
to the circumference of one pulley, that is to one revolution of the vane. By this 
arrangement one of the three pencils is always making its record on a small hori- 
zontal cylinder, over which passes a long band of metallic paper about 5 inches wide. 
The cylinder, being connected with the shaft turned by the revolving cups, moves at 
a rate proportionate to the velocity of the air, Stationary pencils rule lines on the 
paper as it is wound forwards by the motion of the air, and indicate the cardinal 
points. Upon the margin of the paper, a pencil moved by means of a clock records 
the time, the quantity of paper worked off in any given time showing the amount 
of horizontal motion of the air during that period. The instrument can be supplied 
with a single length of paper sufficient to last for several weeks, and this paper being 
what is termed metallic, small brass wires slightly rounded at the end are used as 
pencils. The whole of the registering portion of the instrument is contained in a 
cylindrical case about 10 inches in diameter, which protects it from the weather, so 
that it does not require the erection or alteration of a building to carry it, but can be 
placed for action in any situation that may be desired. 
Meteorological Observations at Huggate for 1857. By the Rev. T. RANKIN. 
The first part of the present communication consisted of tables, showing for each 
month—]. the thermometer; 2. the barometer; 3. winds; 4. weather; 5. rain; 
6. hygrometer. Secondly, observations on remarkable days, and circumstances con 
