Report of the Kew Committee, 



463 



wind (direction and velocity), and rain have been maintained in regular 

 operation under the care of Mr. T. W. Baker, assisted by T. Gunter. 

 The daily standard eye-observations for the control of the automatic 

 records have been made regularly, as well as daily observations in con- 

 nexion with the Washington synchronous system. 



The Observatories of the Meteorological Council at Aberdeen, Armagh, 

 Falmouth, Glasgow, Stony hurst, and Valencia have been visited by Mr. 

 Whipple, and their instruments inspected. 



The examination and checking of the work of the self-recording Obser- 

 vatories of the Meteorological Committee was discontinued in November 

 1876, and the scales and appliances used in the work returned to the 

 Meteorological Office. Mr. Aldridge, an assistant engaged in the work, 

 accepted an appoiajinent from the Meteorological Committee. Mr. Har- 

 rison is employed at Kew, subject to the condition that he may be at any 

 time sent to any of the Observatories to relieve the officer in charge in 

 case of illness or other cause, if required by the Meteorological Council 

 to do so. The tabulation of the Kew meteorological traces is performed 

 by Mr. Hawkesworth. 



This change of arrangements has involved a considerable reduction in 

 the amount allowed by the Meteorological Office to Kew, as its central 

 Observatory. This sum is now ,£150, instead of ,£400, as heretofore. 



Electrograph. — The cause of derangement of this instrument having 

 been apparently removed, by dismounting and thoroughly cleaning it, its 

 action has been fairly satisfactory throughout the year. 



Considerable difficulty has been experienced at times in maintaining the 

 cistern of the water-dropping collector in a sufficiently insulated condi- 

 tion. The substitution of a set of Valley's telegraph insulators for the 

 ebonite supports previously used has been attended with good results. 

 The tabulation of the curves obtained from this instrument has not yet 

 been commenced. 



An instrument having been constructed for the Eoyal Observatory, 

 Greenwich, similar to the one at Kew, certain minor alterations in the 

 details have been introduced which Mr. "Whipple's experience has sug- 

 gested. 



PTwtohelio graph. — The re-examination of the measurements of the 

 Kew sun-pictures, as noticed in former Eeports, has been steadily carried 

 on throughout the year by Mr. Whipple, assisted by Mr. M'Laughlin, 

 who has been temporarily engaged for this purpose. 



The rate of progress has been somewhat slow during the past year, 

 owing to the enormous number of spots visible on the sun's surface duriug 

 the (maximum) year (1870) now under discussion. On several days, 

 recently measured, more than 150 spots have had their positions deter- 

 mined. Mr. Marth is still engaged on the reduction to heliocentric 

 elements. 



