314 H. C. RUSSELL. 



The FALLACY of ASSUMING that a WET YEAR m 



ENGLAND will be followed by a WET YEAR 



in AUSTRALIA. 



By H. O. Russell, b.a., c.m.g., f.r.s. 



[With Diagram.] 



[Read before the Royal Society of N. S. Wales, December 3, 1902.] 



It is a widespread idea that if abundant rain falls in 

 England there will be an abundant rainfall in Australia in 

 the following year. If we look at the diagram it is at once 

 evident that such conditions are very irregular, and after 

 carefully examining the same, we cannot but admit that 

 although sometimes heavy rains in England will be followed 

 next year by heavy rains in Australia, it seldom does so. 

 For instance rain was very abundant in England in 1875, 

 likewise in Australia in 1876 ; the next year England had 

 still more abundant rain but in Australia the rainfall was 

 very much below the previous year, thus contradicting the 

 theory. During 1880 to 1885 iuclusive, rain was very 

 abundant in England, while at the same time we were 

 suffering a very severe drought. Again, take the years 

 1894 to 1901; each one of them shows an abundance of 

 rain in England, wmile Australia has been suffering a severe 

 drought. Nothing more is needed to justify the fallacy of 

 the statement that an abundant rain in England is followed 

 by an abundant rain in Australia. 



