101 



centre respectively proportional to the amount of rain which 

 had fallen when the wind was in that direction ; by then con- 

 necting these spaces a curve is formed, which shews at a 

 glance the character of the rain for that particular period. 

 The plates are only drawn for the mean results, which are the 

 only ones of any importance. The period of five years is 

 rather shorter for very accurate mean results than could 

 have been wished, but absence from home after that period 

 had elapsed put a stop to the observations. 



There are one or two points to which I wish to draw atten- 

 tion. First of all, taking the average monthly rain at three 

 inches, the first six months of the year are below the ave- 

 rage, the other six months above it. November and July are 

 by far the two wettest months in the year ; and in each the 

 greatest amount is from S. W. April is much the driest 

 month, and there is nearly as much rain in it from the northern 

 portion of the compass as from the southern. 



With regard to the gross amount which fell from each 

 point in the entire year, that which fell from S. S. W. and 

 W. is much above the average. From the other points it is 

 below it. 



There is a curious circumstance with regard to the curve 

 of the entire year (Plate 6) : that if it be divided by a line 

 running N. E. and S. W., then the rain on either side of this 

 line is equal all but a fraction of an inch. This is the more 

 remarkable, as these two points had been fixed on by Profes- 

 sor Dove, in his Paper on the Winds, as being the points of 

 greatest and least barometric pressure. That is to say, the 

 wind supposed at S. W., any shift of it, either towards S. or 

 W. produces a rise of mercury ; and also any shift on either 

 side of N. E., a corresponding fall. 



Now in the rain the greatest amount is from S. W. (cor- 

 responding with the lowest state of mercury). The least is 

 from N. E. (where the mercury is highest), and on either side 

 of this line it varies regularly, as an inspection of the Plate 



