20 W. H. WARREN. 
Mr. Russell has published the results in an elaborate paper before 
the Royal Meteorological Society. It is there shown that 
Australian weather, south of Latitude 20°, is the product of a 
regular series of anticyclones moving rapidly (four hundred iniles 
per day) from west to east. These anticyclones travel across 
Australia in from six to seven days, generally seven, and since 
each part of them is marked by its own weather, we have the 
well known fact of recurring weather in seven day periods explained, 
and the moon is once more relieved of the responsibility of causing 
it. It is also shown that the persistent dry weather for many 
months past is caused by the character of the cyclones, which by 
their modifications bring dry or wet weather, also that this inves- 
tigation explains why the best meteorological atlases show a fixed 
anticyclone on Western Australia, which does not exist; altogether 
it is perhaps the most important paper that has yet been published 
upon the meteorology of Australia. 
The question—whence the anticyclones and their peculiarities 
and latitudes? conditions which control our weather, is now being 
investigated with good prospect. The question is of the greatest 
importance, and is receiving the attention which it deserves. 
During the year the Observatory has published a map of the 
Colony, showing isotherms of mean temperature for each degree. 
The following have also been published—General Meteorological 
Results 1880 to 1884 inclusive, the same for 1890. Rain and 
River Results for 1891. A new edition of the Physical Geography 
and Climate of New South Wales. Results of the Transit of 
Venus 1874. Results of observations with the Meridian Instru- 
ment for three years. Results of Double Star Measures and the 
Daily Weather Charts. Four thousand four hundred and twenty 
copies of the books and pamphlets published have been distributed 
to various institutions and observatories, and more than one 
thousand additions to the library have been received in exchange. 
The current-paper service has yielded some interesting facts 
during the year. On January 31, 1892, the captain of the 8.8. 
Port Adelaide when in Latitude 46° 4’ south and Longitude 103° 
