326 



Report of the Kew Committee. 



notes of weather, cloud, and sunshine, have been transmitted, as usual, 

 to the Meteorological Office. 



With the sanction of the Meteorological Council, data have been 

 supplied to the Council of the Royal Meteorological Society, the 

 editor of ' Symons's Monthly Meteorological Magazine,' Dr. Rowland, 

 the Institute of Mining Engineers, and others. 



Detailed information of all thunderstorms observed in the neigh- 

 bourhood during the year has been forwarded to the Royal Meteoro- 

 logical Society, as usual. 



At the request of the Meteorological Council, experiments have 

 been for some months in progress upon the spare Beckley Rain Gauge 

 with Willesden prepared paper and aniline ink, with the view of 

 determining its adaptability for use with that instrument, as a 

 substitute for the paper hitherto used, which has been found to 

 deteriorate on keeping. 



Daily trials were carried out, and the results showed a marked 

 improvement upon those previously obtained. It was found impos- 

 sible, however, to entirely prevent the lengthening of the papers 

 during very damp weather, although the sheets were soaked and 

 coated with various varnishes, &c. Experiments are still in progress 

 on this subject. 



Various suggestions for a supplemental record of the number of 

 discharges made by the Beckley Rain Gauge during heavy rainfalls 

 have been under consideration, but nothing definite has, up to the 

 present, been decided upon. 



Anemograph. — A new pricker was fitted to this instrument in June, 

 the old one having become bent and loose in its fitting. 



Sunshine Records. — As it was found that the scaffolding erected 

 during the extension of the west wing interfered with the registration 

 of bright sunshine by the recorder after 6 p.m., a spare instrument 

 was obtained on loan from the Meteorological Office, and fitted up on 

 the staging above the sun room, in order to prevent any possible loss 

 of record, and was in use from August 2 to September 10, the 

 scaffolding being removed on the latter date. 



Alterations in Observatory. — To facilitate photographic operations, 

 and to keep the thermograph free from disturbance, &c, the curtains 

 heretofore used in the room have been removed, and a wooden 

 partition with two doors erected, which has been found a great 

 improvement. At the same time, arrangements were made so as to 

 render the room available for the registering portion of the electro- 

 graph, and the two instruments are now conveniently placed side by 

 side. 



Inspections. — At the commencement of March Mr. Whipple visited 

 the Valencia Observatory, and after dismounting the whole of the 

 meteorological instruments, conveyed them to the new building 



