98 



BEN NEVIS OBSERVATORY. — INSTRUMENTS, ETC. 



[1 



and Chrystal's direction-instrument has not been in use. 

 The driving clock of the latter continues to be the 

 standard time clock in Observatory. The rainband 

 observations have been made by means of the small direct 

 vision spectroscope. Some photographs were taken in the 

 early part of the year and in summer, but since 

 September the camera has been at Fort-William 

 Observatory. Richard's barograph was in use till 

 December, when the clockwork became foul and refused 

 to work. The drum, with clock, is now away getting 

 cleaned and repaired. The stephanome has been in use 

 as usual. The depth of snow is measured as formerly at 

 Post A. Observations of the number of dust particles 

 in the air have been made with the large instrument in 

 tower ; the small one is at the base station. There have 

 been several breaks in the rainfall owing to snowdrift 

 and high winds. In other respects the observations have 

 >beeu uninterrupted during the year, although the outside 



part of the hourly routine has been from five to seven 

 minutes late on a few occasions. .During the latter half 

 of the year communication by telegraph has been faulty, 

 owing to the cable getting fused and burnt by lightning. 

 Besides the permanent plant of the Observatory, there are 

 various instruments — balance, weights, thermometers, 

 tubes, aspiration-psychrometer, etc. — at Observatory be- 

 longing to Mr. A. J. Herbertson. During August and 

 September they were used at this Observatory in connection 

 with Mr. Herbertson's work on hygrometry, a similar set 

 of observations being made at sea level at the same time. 

 The permanent staff consists of R. T. Omond, A. Rankin, 

 J. Miller and Sam. Weir with R. M'Dougall since July. 

 Throughout the year the following have acted as observers 

 at different times : — Messrs. A. J. Herbertson, C. Stewart, 

 A. Shand and J. I. Craig. R. M'Dougall was telegraph 

 clerk in summer and autumn. George Day and Wm. 

 Stewart acted instead of S. Weir at different times. 



