449 J. Brocklesby—Rainfull in the United States 
Proceeding by the first method, it is found that the average 
sun-spot area for the period extending from 1804 to 1867 inclu- | 
sive is denoted by the number 38. Ta ing now each year of 
this period, the year is printed in heavy or light type, accord- 
ing as the number representing its sun-spot area is greater or 
less than 88; heavy type indicating an excess and light type a 
deficiency. ach year is then also marked plus or minus from 
Mr. Schott’s table of territorial groups, according as its rain- 
fall is above or below the mean. 
This being done, we have the following results. In group I, 
comprising the seaboard from Maine to Virginia, there are 
twenty-nine years in which the sun-spot area is above the aver- 
age. In seventeen of these the rainfall is in excess, in ten 
below the average, and in two equal to it. In this group there 
are also thirty-five years when the sun-spot area is below the 
enteen minima sun-spot years, and in these the rainfall is in 
excess seven times, below the mean eight times, and equal to it 
twice, 
one equal to it. There are also in this group twenty-five years 
when the extent of sun-spots is below the average, and in mne 
of these the rainfall is above the mean, in fourteen below the 
mean, and in two equal to it. 
_ The tables of precipitation belonging to these three grou 
are regarded by Mr. Schott as tolerably trustworthy, and the 
results of the comparison show a tendency on the whole 
toward an excess of rain when there is an excess of sun-spot 
area, and vice versa. Yet we meet here with marked anoma- 
lies; for in the period from 1818 to 1826 inclusive, which are 
which are years of excess in the sun-spot area, all the annu: 
rainfalls in the three groups are below the average, except in 
| ce. Moreover, as we see by the table, years of excess 
and deficiency of rainfall are found as well in the periods when 
oe area is above the mean as in those where it is 
: LOW 
4 
’ 
os 
