REMARKS ON THE METEOROLOGY OF 1866. 



It will be seen from the Table (No. 5) of comparative Eainfall, that 1866 

 was a decidedly wet year. At Truro, the total quantity measured was 50'77 

 inches, or one fifth more than the average of 17 years, which is 41-13 inches, 

 and a larger total than that of any year of the series, except 1852, which 

 was 52-65 inches. The difference was still more strongly marked in the first 

 four months of the year, and in August and September. This last month 

 was conspicuously wet, considerably more than twice as much so as its aver- 

 age. In this it stood in marked contrast with the year preceding, when it 

 was dry beyond precedent. The only months at all rmusually dry, were 

 August, which had less than an inch, only about one third the average fall, 

 and October, which was little more than half as rainy as it commonly is. 

 There was a pretty close general correspondence on these points between 

 Truro and Helston and Bodmin, the other Stations in regard to which we 

 are in possession of mean results for the same seventeen years ; but a few 

 interesting differences may be noticed. The excess of total rainfall during 

 the year, at Helston, was only about one seventh beyond the average, which 

 is 36-80 inches, nearly one sixth less than that for Truro. Among the months, 

 the greater dryness of Helston last year was marked in May and June, and 

 yet more in November. At Bodmin, the proportion above the average was 

 much the same as at Truro, the total being, as usual, about one eleventh 

 more. This excess was more than accounted for by the larger fall in Janu- 

 ary, July, August, and September ; the months of April and June having 

 been a good deal more rainy at Truro than at Bodmin. It is stated by Capt. 

 Liddell that 1-58 inches of rain and snow fell at the latter place early on the 

 11th of January, being the heaviest fall ever recorded there up to that time ; 

 but this was exceeded on the 28th of August, when no less than 3-16 inches 

 were registered ; the quantity at Truro, on the same day, having been 1-05 

 inch. Three gauges are kept near the surface, and one on Bodmin Tower, 

 65 feet above the ground. The rainfall on the Tower was 49-66 inches, or 

 5-51 inches less than near the surface, being only about half the difference 

 given as the average in Beardmore's Tables. The number of days on which 

 rain fell in the year 1866, was not nearly as much above the average of 17 

 years at either of these three places, as was the quantity of water measured, 

 being only about one tenth more than usual at Helston and Truro, and not 

 much above a twentieth at Bodmin ; so that the rain must have been more 

 than commonly heavy. Among the other Stations included in the Table 

 CNo. 5) nearly the usual relation is maintained. It is worthy remark, al- 

 though the number of years during which the comparison has been instituted 

 is not sufficient for safe conclusions, that, in the four years for which we have 

 recorded a comparative statement in this Journal, the excess of rainfall at 

 the eastern Stations, Bodmin and Altarnun, over those in the west, has chiefly 

 occurred in the autumnal and winter months ; whilst it has been generally 



