On Variations in the Magnetic Declination at Bloemfontein. 361 
changed from 1.30 p.m. to 7 a.m., not very regularly, it is true, and 
from November 18th to December 17th the time changed to about 
8.30 a.m. 
It has, of course, been known for a long time that there^was a change 
in the time of the first Easterly maximum, between the months of 
September and October, which seems to depend upon the position of the 
sun. This was shown by General Sabine more than sixty years ago, from 
a study of the records taken at Cape Town and St. Helena. These 
records ceased, I think, in 1851. My curves from September 25th and 
October 7th show a very marked difference in the magnitudes of the first 
maxima very similar to that shown in the curves drawn by General 
Sabine. 
Tt is much to be desired that a permanent Magnetic Observatory with 
self-recording instruments should be established in South Africa, as there 
are many problems to be solved in connection with terrestrial mag- 
netism. 
The observations given above were taken as carefully as possible under 
the conditions of working, but for work of this description the undivided 
attention of the observer is necessary, and cannot be adequately done during 
the spare time at the disposal of one engaged in teaching work. Professor 
Beattie has carried on a very valuable series of magnetic observations in 
South Africa, and it was a study of his work which induced me to 
endeavour to add a small quota to the knowledge of the variation of the 
declination. 
