470 



BEN NEVIS OBSERVATOBY. — INSTRUMENTS, ETC. 



[1897, 



INSTRUMENTS, ETC., 189 



There has practically been no change on previous 

 years in the instruments used nor in the methods of 

 observing. 



The instruments in use have been : — 



Barometer 1385. (No. 1285 is in good order.) 



Dry Bulbs 192677 and 535541, Wet Bulbs 192672 and 

 53554.1, and minimum 1108531 were used in the small 

 form of Stevenson Screen up till May 16th, and since 

 October 14th on ladder-stand; and during the summer 

 months the same Dry and Wet Bulbs were exposed in 

 the large form of screen 4 feet above the ground with 

 maximum 117293 and minimum 116918. 



Richards' Self-registering Aneroid has been in use. 



Black Bulb No. 186 has been in use chiefly in summer. 

 It was broken in November. 



Robinson's Anemometer was mounted on May 16th, and 

 taken in on October 15th. 



The Tower Thermometer Screen was in use in very 

 stormy weather. 



The Campbell-Stokes Sunshine Recorder has con- 

 tinued in use. Its slate base is getting rather 

 chipped. 



During the spring months the depth of snow was 

 measured at the temporary post referred to in the last 

 year's summary. A new post was put up in the exact 

 place where A had been in September, and the depth this 

 winter so far has been measured there. 



During the summer the Dust Counter had been away 

 for repairs. It was re-mounted on September 14th and 



observations made for several weeks; but it got out of 

 order again in October. 



A few photographs have been secured by means of the 

 Observatory Camera. 



Hilgcr's Pocket Rainband Spectroscope has been in 

 daily use. 



There has been no serious break in the routine of 

 observing. There has been about the usual number of 

 observations taken a few minutes late, and the rainfall 

 record has suffered breaks owing to stormy weather and 

 heavy drifting. 



Mr T. G. Kay, assisted by the Staff, made some observa- 

 tions on earth currents during his stay at the Observatory. 



Special observations on hygrometry were conducted by 

 Mr J. S. Begg in April. 



The Half Way Station was in operation in July, 

 August and September, Messrs Muir, Drysdale, D. M. 

 Aitken and A. Aitken acting as observers. 



The telegraph instrument was replaced in July by a 

 telephone which has so far given satisfaction. 



The Staff of the Observatories has been A. Rankin, 

 J. Miller, R. H. M'Dougall, D. Grant and J. Neil. 

 William Stewart, roadman, left the Staff in December. 



The following have assisted at various times throughout 

 the year : — 



Messrs J. S. Begg, T. G. Kay, W. T. Kilgour, G. Ednie, 

 D. Wilton, D. M. Aitken, A. Aitken and J. Cumings. 

 Messrs John Matheson and W. Rankin acted as telegraph 

 or telephone clerks. 



